Here’s the one thing every adult can do to prevent child trafficking.
Photo by Caleb Woods on Unsplash
There’s a reason why warning stories about kidnappings, human trafficking, and the sexual exploitation of children spread like wildfire around the internet — they resonate with our deepest fears. But don’t let this fear make you feel helpless. There is something every adult can do to help prevent child trafficking, but it’s probably not what you think.
First, what you shouldn’t do is hit “like” or “share” on those social posts. Our colleagues at End Slavery Tennessee explain in detail why these posts undercut an accurate understanding of what actually puts children at risk of human trafficking.
“The average victim usually knows their trafficker and has been controlled and manipulated rather than abducted,” writes Marissa Brownell, Care Coordinator & Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Minors Specialist for End Slavery Tennessee.
Marissa explains that children are most at risk for trafficking when they’re already in a vulnerable position either physically or emotionally, such as being homeless, having run away, or having been the victim of other abuse. Even if you don’t see any potential predators in the child’s life, Marissa says traffickers often meet and groom their victims virtually through social media, online gaming, and chat rooms.
While there are lots of ways that parents and caring adults can protect children from sex abuse and sexual exploitation, the one thing every adult can do to help prevent trafficking is be an active listener. It’s easy to talk at children, but it’s more impactful to make sure they feel heard. Active listening means you’re not only listening, you’re acknowledging what they’re saying and validating what they’re feeling. Through active listening, you’re inviting the type of open and honest conversation needed to identify warning signs and risks.
Especially for parents, establishing healthy communication with your child is fundamental to building your bond and relationship with them. Active listening should start from birth. Children begin communicating and expressing their feelings long before they have words to go with them. Remember, every feeling a child has is valid. It’s behaviors in children that we should aim to shape.
Take time to be an active listener with children at any age, by:
Listening with your whole body. Put down your phone or computer, and make eye contact. Use body language that says “you have my full attention.”
Repeating what you hear. Rather than immediately responding with advice or your own thoughts, take time to say back what you think you’ve heard. It gives them the ability to elaborate and know that you’re interested in what they’re saying.
Naming the emotions they seem to be feeling. You can say things like “Well, that must make you feel happy!” or “Wow, did that make you feel frustrated?” And follow it with validation. “It’s ok to feel frustrated. We all feel that way sometimes. What can you do to make things better?”
The earlier and more often children are the recipients of active listening, the better. If a teenager has never felt heard by the adults in their life, it’s going to be hard to get them to open up about who they’re connecting with online or other things they’re experiencing that can put them in danger.
Photo by Eye for Ebony on Unsplash