Predators amongst you

Over the years the word predator has been used to describe an animal that preys on others. Well in today's world we can now say predator is a word used to describe a person. A person that victimizes, torments, or destroys. Most of the time for self gain. What prompt me to write this, was because I went on Florida's data-base of sexual offenders. I searched a five mile radius from my house, to find that there are 120 sexual offenders within this five mile radius. This was to my surprise, I didn't expect that many to be surrounding my home.

Now while most people automatically assume these sexual predication are children related. For most this may be the case, but not for all. Doing your research can help you differentiate between which ones are children related and which ones are not. Among the sexual predators is actually one of my neighbors. This would have bothered me a whole lot more, if I hadn't done my research. Although I still would recommend being careful around any type of predator.

While looking up predators in my neighborhood proved to be knowledgeable because I didn't realize how many truly surrounded me. It can be a scary thought to process about raising children in a place where so many reside. You just have to remember to be alert, keep your children in view, never leave them alone, and make sure you know who lives in your area.

I can tell you that with this information I have acquired my daughter won't be without me any time soon. I see more children in my neighborhood without their parents and with 120 sexual offenders around I'm surprised their parents aren't outside with them. As people we tend to think it can't or won't happen to me, but in reality it can and it might just happen to you. Please take precautions and stay aware not only for the safety of your children, but for your safety as well.

Also if you see a child with signs of abuse please help that child. You can change a life or even save one. You can make a difference to one child. Whether you are your own child's hero or someone else's. Know you matter and can help where help is needed. No problem is small enough because the small ones can later turn into bigger ones. These children need us to be their voice.

The answer is no. There are just as many internet predators as there is in your neighborhood, if not more. Predators on the internet come off as friendly and often make fake accounts to befriend children. In today's society children and even adults tend to put to much information on the internet. Learning what is safe to put online and putting the correct settings on any site you access. Can help prevent too much information from getting out.

As parents there are guidelines we can take, like putting settings for personal information to private, go through your child's pictures with them to make sure no information can be taken from any of them, and only webcam people you know. As parents we can put a parental lock on certain websites that we don't feel our children should access and also limit their internet time.

Sometimes it's hard to prevent things that are going to happen from happening. All we can do is try to take necessary precautions and hope that what we are doing is enough. Make sure you stress to your children the importance of internet safety.

:) Megan