Statistics regarding sexual crimes against children have proven that a more comprehensive educational program is needed.
The old adage of Stranger Danger is inadequate since most children are abused by an adult they know.
The Children's Safety Village utilizes a curriculum package called Child Lures Community Plan for Prevention of Sexual Assault and Abduction. While the name may be daunting, the information is thorough and right on target.
Instructors explain up to fifteen of the most common lures used to entice children into dangerous situations. This is followed by a discussion with participants on the proper action they should take if they are ever approached. It is especially stressed that the child is the victim and the abuser is the criminal.
The students then get to test their new skills in the Dangerous Person Awareness garden. Can they spot the unsafe places and pathways? Do they correctly identify the "stranger" — played by an instructor they have not met? This is extremely important because a child's idea of a stranger can be vastly different from an adult's idea. In this way, participants can see just how cunning lures can be.
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