Child crimes investigator reveals the five things she'll never let her kids do
By Naomi White|
K?eeping kids safe would rate among any parent's top priorities.
But as one child protection investigator has revealed, it's not just things like road safety and stranger danger we need to be wary of.
?Going by @thegirlcop on TikTok, the US police officer has shared some of the frightening things she saw first-hand when investigating crimes involving kids.
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First up on her list was a ban on sleepovers. "I know I'm going to get a lot of hate for this," she said. "You don't know who is there, you don't know who else is spending the night. Brothers, cousins, uncles, sisters, you just don't know."
Next up was social media app Snapchat กช not only because it shared users' locations, making it easier for predators to find children, but because kids can be easily tricked into sending inappropriate content.
"I have a lot of cases that have come from predators utilising this app, and kids think that things disappear and they don't," she said.
"Nothing good comes from this app."
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Another rule was teaching her kids about body autonomy, and never making them hug or kiss anyone, family or otherwise. ?
In a follow-up clip, the officer shared two more things she has banned, including keeping secrets, a trick used by predators to avoid being caught.?
"There is a big difference between keeping a secret and keeping a surprise," she said. "I can't really think of a reason that an outside adult should be telling a child to keep a secret... and if you are an adult, don't tell other people's kids that you want them to keep a secret กช it's creepy."
Last up, she said her kids will always know, and use, the correct terms for their private parts, warning against using 'silly names'. ?
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Many adults who watched the now-viral clip agreed with the advice, praising the police officer for sharing these important rules and helping raise awareness about child safety.
"I have always told my girls that safe adults don't ask you to keep secrets," said one.
?"The secret one was how my friend found out her daughter was abused. He told her to keep it a secret, mum has already talked to her, she told mom ASAP," added another.
"Pediatric ER doc, child safety expert and mum here and I agree with every part of this!," said a third.
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"As a past victim, these are things I wish I knew as a child. Thank you for educating," one user shared.
If you or someone you know needs help, contact ReachOut or Lifelife Australia on 13 11 14.
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