JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — As students remain on summer break, parents are encouraged to remind their children of the dangers that may lurk at the park or especially online.
Emphasizing how parents need to watch out for their child's activity on the internet is just as important in public and outdoor spaces.
“There are various dangers that lurk online for children, including inappropriate content, predators, seeking to exploit children, phishing scams, and even identity theft,” mental health counselor, Nicole Davidson-Harshaw, explained.
More than 40 percent of child abductions take place over the summer, according to data from the National Incidence Studies of Missing, Abducted, Runaway and Throwaway Children. This is because the summer months mean increased online activity, outdoor exploration and unsupervised outings.
In today’s digital environments, young kids’ online and offline activities harbor potential risks and threats to their safety, making now the time to sit down with your children to help them understand that not everyone they meet has good intentions.
"Kids should not give out any of their personal information: their name, their phone number, their address, or any specific identifiers," said Davidson-Harshaw. "It's also important that they do not take the time to schedule a meeting outside of that gaming chat room."
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children says it has seen a 360% increase of missing child cases from just 10 years ago with the boom of social media and online gaming. For kids growing up in the digital age, it's given parents the technology to see timestamps of what their children are seeing and saying online.
“Parents can monitor their children's activity online without invading their privacy by simply having a parental control software to filter and monitor their usage. Try to rearrange their privacy settings in their social media accounts, but most of all, have those regular conversations with your child to ensure that you're promoting that online safety usage,” Davidson-Harshaw told First Coast News.
It's a preventative that can go a long way for a child's safety.
Whether it's the brief walk home from the school bus, an afternoon at the neighborhood playground, or a routine trip to the store, children vanish at an alarming rate.
In 2022, there were a staggering 359,094 entries for missing children, according to the FBI's National Crime Information Center.
Davidson-Harshaw says a conversation educating children on what kind of language and physical touch is appropriate from adults and when to report something is crucial.
"Parents should make it clear that it is never okay to keep a secret that an adult tells you to," she explained. "Secrets are meant to manipulate and control children, so it's important they understand how to foster transparency and honest communication with a trusted adult."
You should also remind your child to always travel in groups when they’re going to the pool or a friend’s house this summer. Davidson-Harshaw is further encouraging parents to establish a check-in routine.
“This could include having a set of consequences that they reinforce in the event that those check-ins do not happen," Davidson-Harshaw said. "It's important that parents understand and children understand how to have routines to protect their safety and their wellbeing."
If you suspect your child or another is being stalked or abused, you’re encouraged to call the Department of Children and Families Child Abuse Hotline or your local non-emergency line.
To learn more about special counseling for abused children with the Dupont Counseling Group, click here.