When Adults are with Children, Watch Out for These Behaviors

While, individually, the following behavioral traits do not mean an adult is a child predator … a combination of certain behavioral traits do need to, seriously, send up red flags.
 
Predators will often use teasing and demeaning words to laugh off, or deny … a child from setting boundaries in physical closeness.
 
Predators will insist on touching, hugging a child, even when it is clear the child does not want the attention. 
 
Many predators will use “tickling” or “wrestling” “games” to get physically close to a child.
 
Predators may make a habit of “accidentally” walking in on a child who is in a bathroom, or a room, where the child may be changing clothes.
 
While it may be just “misguided” parenting … predators do allow, if not encourage … children to get away with inappropriate behaviors.
 
If he/she seems “too good to be true” … then, more than likely … he/she is.  This person may want to babysit, frequently, without pay, or likes to buy an excessive number of gifts, gives them money … or likes to take them out, often … on “special outings,” … alone.
 
Lastly … and, this is most certainly something I can attest to:  He/she points out sexual images and makes suggestive, vulgar jokes with children present … and … will expose the child to adult sexual interactions or images, without concern for the child’s presence.  And … heed this … they are overly interested in the sexuality of a particular child or teen. (ie, a female child’s developing breasts, etc.)
 
 
Debbie Barth:11/07/2018 at 3:49 pm ET
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Debbie Barth is the author of The Promise Book: Tell Someone.  Her goal is to aid parents who understand the necessity of talking to their children about child predators in way that doesn’t confuse or scare them.
The book is available on Amazon and at www.thisisdebbiebarth.com