5 Ways to Teach Your Kids About Human Trafficking

We are in the middle of January, National Sex Traffic Prevention Month, and child abuse is a major component to those who go on to be recruited by traffickers. It’s never too early to have meaningful dialogues with your children and teens about the issue of child abuse and sex traffic recruitment, an epidemic in America. The media reports stories about sex trafficking sting operations involving minors every day. And the statistics are staggering:

• Sex trafficking is a $99 billion dollar industry
• 300,000 American children are at risk every year
• 1 in 10 children are sexually abused
• Two million children are sold each year through sex trafficking
• 1 in 3 girls and 1 in 5 boys are sexually abused
• 1 of 5 children receive online sexual solicitations
• Child sex trafficking has been reported in all 50 states. Sex trafficking has been reported in all 50 states and targets children from all races, socio-economic backgrounds and zip codes
• The average age of children running away and entering sex trafficking is 15-117 years old.
• Within 48 hours of leaving home, 1 out of 3 children are solicited for sex

Elizabeth Melendez Fisher Good is the co-founder of the nation’s largest anti-sex trafficking organization called Selah Freedom and The Selah Way Foundation.  She is the new author of a book, “Groomed,” that will help you protect the next generation from being groomed and held captive by secrets. Below are 5 of her tips for parents to use when beginning dialogue with young children and pre-teens about child abuse and sex traffic recruitment prevention. The tips are excerpted from Selah Freedom’s Prevention Program that equips parents, youth and those who work with them, with the tools they need to avoid being manipulated by a trafficker and successfully prevents girls from being commercially sold.

Tip #1: Conversation Starters

• For younger children, talk about safe vs. unsafe touch.
• Encourage your child to use their voice.
• Have your child identify their trust triangle (3 safe adults they can talk to).
• Explain the difference between secrets vs. surprises.
• Talk about safe screens.
• Create a safety plan on what they can do if they don’t feel safe.
• If you suspect child abuse or trafficking, notify authorities immediately and keep children safe by letting police handle it.
• Ask your pre-teen, “what qualities do you want in a relationship?” “How would you know you are unsafe online or in a relationship?” “How would you respond to an unsafe conversation or person that made you feel uncomfortable?”

 Tip #2: Communication

• Ask your child what they know about this topic and discuss the facts and myths.
• Identify safety measures that your family can put in place and role-play different scenarios.
• Don’t be afraid to add a bit of humor and assure your child that it is ok to have this conversation.
• Listen to your child speak without interrupting, judging or criticizing.

Tip #3: Education

• Check out educational websites with your child for safety tips, videos, documentaries and emergency resources.
• Give youth access to resources and safe contacts.
• Stay in the loop and check out new apps as youth are using them.

Tip #4: Know how to spot the signs. Look out for:

• Sexual knowledge and experience beyond their years.
• Hyper-awareness of genital area, touching, discussing, etc. with themselves or other children/teens.
• History of emotional, physical and sexual abuse in families.
• Fear/hesitance of adult (s) or being alone with a particular person.

Tip #5: Keep up the dialogue.

This kind of discussion is not a one and done process. Keep the conversation going with your kids each year as they grow and mature.