Sex Offender Abuse Alert List

Over and over again, children who have been sexually abused report that their abuser used some or all of the following techniques and behaviors. While it is not necessarily true that the presence of these signs absolutely indicates sexual abuse has occurred, it may warrant further investigation on the part of the adult in that child’s life. While this list is not comprehensive, it gives you an idea of how offenders think and behave. These warning signs may be alert you that a child is being sexually exploited, or is being groomed:

• Treating them differently from other kids, telling them how special they are
• Wanting to spend time alone with the child, making excuses to go places alone or have others leave
• Asking the child to do things that involve physical contact such as backrubs, wrestling, massages (or doing those things to the child)
• Rubbing or touching the child's private parts and then saying it was an accident
• Looking at or touching the child's body and saying it is an inspection to see how they are developing
• Rubbing lotion or ointment on the child when no one else is around or when nothing is wrong
• Going into the child's room when they are undressed or going into the bathroom when the child is in there, and saying it was an accident
• Not respecting the child's privacy--entering their room without knocking, not allowing the child to close bedroom or bathroom doors
• Teaching sex education by showing the child pornographic pictures, showing his body or touching the child's body
• Saying sexual things to the child about their body and how they look
• Talking to the child about sexual things he has done
• Telling the child private things about the child's mother
• Telling the child that he/she is special, the only person who understands him
• Treating the child like an adult, while acting like a kid
• Giving the child special privileges or favors and making the child feel obligated
• Not letting the child have friends or do things that other kids the same age do
• Going into the child's room at night or arranging for the child to stay over
• Letting his robe open or walking around naked "accidentally"
• Insist that the child not tell anyone
• Taking the child's side in family conflicts to gain the child's trust & create division in the family
• Isolating the child from friends and family