"Target hardening" RE: [SCA-AE] ANNOUNCE: Background check FAQ

[KaziBrionSCA]

Lady Renata wrote:

<<The focal points of my work and research have involved sexual offenders, a
large portion of which are child predators. ...
SNIP
... Instead of focusing on stranger danger, focus on how to say no to people
that they are familiar with, and how to keep an open dialog with you if
someone hurts them.  The majority of people are victimized by someone they
know; this includes children.  Know where they are, who they are with and
let them know that you are involved.  This is called "target hardening,"
making your child not an option for harm.>>


Are there any good ways to harden the target while keeping the target feel
secure?  
It would be rather interesting to have a class or a discussion group on the
subject at some upcoming large event, with professionals in the field giving
us ideas, things to look for, etc.
We want our kids to feel safe.  We want to make the SCA a good experience
for them.  It is difficult to talk to the kids about these things sometimes.
I find I lack appropriate words about "what might happen".  These topics are
hard.  Talking about "stranger danger" is relatively easy, because we tell
the kids that some anonymous strangers might do them harm.  However, telling
them a known person might do them harm amounts to generally accusing our
fellow SCAdians.  Kids are very "black-and-white" in their reasoning, at
certain ages.  I can tell our 11 year old that I want her to keep away from
a known person because "I don't feel comfortable with her values", and we
may discuss that, and she will keep the information confidential.  If I tell
our 5-year old the same thing, next time she will see that person she will
say, "My mom wants me to keep away from you because she doesn't like your
values."  AAARRRGH!  (Yes, I read up on these things, but a magazine article
will tell you only so much).

I would really welcome if somebody with a background in school counseling or
police work or other related area would consider talking to the *parents* on
how to better protect their kids using "target hardening", in and out of the
SCA, without making the kids a walking advertisement on whom we won't
associate with.  Sigh.

Kazi - often outsmarted by her daughters :-)