The Signs of Grooming That Every Parent Should Look Out For

In recent years, grooming has become alarmingly common. With many parents speaking out about suspicious people getting too close to their kids to teens who spoke up about the abuse they experienced growing up, the conversation around it is growing. But grooming is not a new concept; it’s just that people are speaking out about it now, and it’s online, where it can reach people across the globe.

When you learn more about Michael Lesko sexual abuse case, the hard truth of the ways abusers employ tactics to get what they want hits you. In such a time, it is beneficial if parents know to look for the signs of grooming and take necessary actions to punish the abuser and protect their child.

This blog explains grooming and the signs of grooming to look out for.

What Is Grooming?

Grooming is a tactic used by people to manipulate a child and their environment, parents, etc., to sexually abuse the child. Abusers frequently build a trusting relationship with a child and their family over a long period of time. Once they gain trust, the time they spend with the child does not raise questions, laying the groundwork for sexual abuse.

A groomer can be anyone: a friend, family member, teacher, etc. Let’s look into some different types of grooming:

• Online Grooming: Abusers could befriend a child online by creating a false identity, slowly gaining their trust, and eventually asking for favors.
• In-Person Grooming: Abusers gain the trust of the child and manipulate them into thinking that everything happening is normal. Some ways are:
• Desensitizing the child from physical touch
• Manipulating the child to trust them
• Using their position of power to create a controlling environment

Signs of Grooming to Look Out for

Knowing the early signs of grooming can be a savior as the child could be protected from the trauma that could affect them throughout their life. Keep a look out for the following signs:

• Increased Attention: Abusers often find various ways to spend time with the child, such as going to the parent’s house, meeting at parks, asking the kid to come to their place, etc.
• Gifts and Favors: Abusers often try to shower the child with gifts as a way to manipulate children into trusting them by making the kid feel special. Keep an eye out for random new things with kids.
• Secrecy: Children might start to hide conversations or interactions they had with the abuser. The kids could also lie about not seeing the abuser; this is a result of the abuser manipulating the child to keep their interactions a secret.
• Over-Familiarity: Though the first few interactions look normal, abusers tend to slowly push the child’s boundaries; increasing physical contact, standing inappropriately close, using suggestive language, etc. are all tactics an abuser could use.
• Changes in Behavior: In most cases, children who are being abused often pull back from their lives; they can also start appearing more anxious, withdrawn, or overall secretive about their lives. Abusers often manipulate or threaten children from speaking out, which usually leads to such behavior.

Online Grooming Signs

In the digital age, abusers have found a way to groom kids online. Here are some signs to keep an eye out for:

• Unknown Follow Requests: Abusers often make fake accounts online, appearing as a child to get in touch with kids. They could manipulate the child into thinking they are a trustworthy friend and slowly ask for favors. They could also create multiple accounts to get in touch with children.
• Private Conversations: Abusers can also be found on gaming platforms or other social chats online; they might try to connect with the kid by moving to their private chats. This could lead to a series of manipulations and threats to get the child to do what the abuser asks them to do.
• Secretive Online Behavior: Abusers usually push the child to hide the truth from their parents, but children could also just hide their messages with the abuser or become overly defensive about their interactions with the abuser.