Parents regularly stress out about teen issues, but most of us don’t realize how lucky we are to have our kids safe at home. You’ve likely heard about child trafficking, but like most parents, you’ve probably also assumed that it’s not something you have to worry about. This stuff only happens to kids with absent parents, right? Unfortunately, child trafficking is a very real problem, and children from all backgrounds and areas are abducted for the purposes of sex or organ trafficking regularly. This is a horrific subject to think about, but parents can help their teens stay safe by being aware.

Sex Trafficking in America: The Harsh Reality

Children of all ages are regularly kidnapped and sold into the sex trade, which makes other teen issues seem minimal. They are usually taken out of the country, but this isn’t always the case. Sometimes they stay in the country where it’s easier to transport the victims without anyone noticing. Some scary statistics on child trafficking:

• Experts estimate that 76 percent of sex transactions involving underage girls are done online.
• 50 percent of all human trafficking involves children.
• The average lifespan of victim is seven years from the time they are taken.
• Common causes of death are physical abuse, sexually transmitted diseases, malnutrition, drug overdose or suicide.

What Parents Can Do: Protecting Your Child from Abduction

As mentioned above, many children are kidnapped and trafficked after an online interaction rather than simply grabbed in a mall parking lot. If you want to protect your kids, monitoring their online activities is your first step. Talk to your kids about the dangers of social media. If you allow them to have social media accounts, make sure that they are set to private and check on this regularly. You can even monitor the “friends” or “followers” on your child’s account and require approval on any new requests. This will help prevent predators from making contact with your child without you knowing. Other tips:

• When they reach an appropriate age, talk to your children honestly about sexual abuse and trafficking.
• Help your children understand the methods adult predators use to lure teens, such as gifts.
• Set high standards for love and respect in your home.

If you would like some help talking with your child about serious teen issues, an online retreat might help. For more information about my therapeutic retreats for moms and teens, please contact me today.

For more information about my online programs for moms and daughters, please contact me today. 928-275-1087

Debra Beck

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Debra Beck