Child sexual harassers do not have certain physical characteristics, a certain profession or a certain type. They can belong to both sexes, they can be of any race and religion, homosexual or heterosexual. They do not show as much interest in adults as they do in children.

Most pedophiles are men, although they have been made public and cases where women have abused children. They abuse girls and boys and try all the time to gain the child's trust by taking them for walks, giving them money, luring them with toys or cakes. They generally tend to approach children who have problems, have only one parent, or live with parents who do not have the opportunity to monitor them at all times. The way they use it to keep children from talking is to ask them to "keep the incident a secret." Most sexual harassers, according to studies, have had a history of physical or sexual abuse in the past.

Despite these descriptions, they are not easily discernible. We can mention the case discovered in Austria in 2008, where Josef Fritzl, known as one of the best citizens of the city, sexually abused and raped his daughter with whom he had 7 children for 24 years. This means that you should never give up on the idea that someone might bully your child.

How to protect children?

1- Sexual harassment of children, in most cases, requires them to keep secrets from parents and your child should understand that if someone asked him to do this, he did it not to get the child out of trouble, but because he is doing something wrong. Tell the child that you can talk about everything together and there should be no secrets.

2- Teach your child what an inappropriate touch is. It's a method that parents use and is called "good touch, bad touch and secret touch." Good touches are the acceptable ones. Bad touches are shooting, while secret touches are what are said to be kept secret. With this method they can learn which touches are appropriate and which are not, Also talk to the child about private areas that they should not touch and should not allow anyone to touch them.

3- Remember that children around the age of 12 should have sex education. Make sure your child knows the meaning of things before learning them from other sources. This can prevent sexual harassment, it can make the child more aware.

4- Teach your child how to be safe online. Try to check his conversations and internet communication. You need to keep in touch with your child about online communication and make it clear that there is no secret to being protected. What needs to be taken care of in these cases is the exchange of materials, especially photographs and meetings. Make sure your child is emotionally supportive and open to talking to you.

5 - Supervise your child's extracurricular activities. By being more involved in children's lives, your children will be more protected from sexual harassment. They may be close to you and your family, but if they see how much you are present in the child's life, they will most likely withdraw.

6- Do not leave your child with adults whom you do not know very well, whether they are relatives or not.

7- Teach your little girl / boy not to sit on anyone's lap. Pedophiles often take advantage of this close physical contact.

8- Remember that the best thing to do in these cases is to pay attention to the child, clarify their needs and desires, talk to them and become part of their worries and desires.

Updated article, first published four years ago.