09/07/2025
🛑 WHAT IS GROOMING IN CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE 🛑
🔺Grooming is when someone – usually an adult or older person – tricks a child into trusting them so that they can sexually abuse the child later.
🔺They don’t hurt the child right away. Instead, they pretend to be kind, loving, or helpful, so the child and even the parents start to trust them.
HOW DOES GROOMING HAPPEN?
🔺They choose a child, they may target one often one who is quiet, lonely, or needs help or attention.
🔺They build trust – giving gifts, attention, compliments, or help with school fees or food and the child starts to feel like they have a saviour who they are indebted to
🔺They become "close" – acting like a friend, big brother/sister, or helper to the family.
🔺They introduce secrets – like private calls, chats, or "special" meetings.
🔺They cross boundaries – touching, dirty jokes, showing bad pictures, or asking for photos.
🔺They keep it hidden – telling the child, “Don’t tell anyone,” or making them feel guilty or scared to speak out.
WHAT SHOULD YOU KNOW AS A PARENT?
🔺Groomers can be the people closest to your child be it teachers, relatives, neighbors, pastors.They can also be strangers(one on one or online)
🔺They often seem very nice and it's is hard to suspect them.
🔺Beware of grownups who are too interested in your child or want to be alone with them often.
Grooming is not a child's fault. A child cannot give consent
Protect, don't prey of children
Call 116-Report Child abuse.
