This article takes an in depth look at the child predator.

From the beginning of time a child’s perception of evil has been enhanced with tales of dark shadowy figures who lurk in darkness, and patiently wait for the opportune time to snatch them away and deliver them to the land of the bogeyman. As a result, a vivid image begins to form within the subconscious of a child’s mind, which portrays the possessor of evil as being one who presents him or herself with the appearance of a monster-like being. This monster is easily recognized because its physical characteristics depict a creature that is grossly hideous in appearance.

Tales such as these serve no real purpose, or do they? As parents raising children, and as a society we do understand that dark shadowy figures do exist and the land of the bogeyman is very much a part of our world. The distinction to be made between the child’s perception and reality is the fact that the child, through vivid imagination, puts a face to the possessor of evil, and by doing so makes him or her immediately recognizable. The reality is that the possessor of evil—the child molester, the predator—whose image is vividly portrayed in the form of a monster-like being that lives within the imagination of the child, does not exist, at least not in the physical form it takes on in the mind of the child. This is where we as adults can tap into the imagination of a child and begin to explain that there is some truth to the tales that we all as children and adults have heard.

We begin by dispelling the notion that the monster that lives within their imagination is one that is easily recognized in the real world. To the contrary, it is what we would see if we had the ability to look beyond the physical being into the souls of some of our fellow human beings. We explain in a very gentle way that although it is true there are very many good people in our world, there are also those that exist within our society who possess the overwhelming powerful urge to intrude upon the trust, the innocence, and the purity of the child with the intention of initiating sexual contact.

The child molester, the pedophile, is often unable to resist this powerful urge and disguises the monster within his soul with the mask of goodness, which defends him as the armor against the weapon of detection as he begins the task of seeking out his prey. He often takes jobs where children are easily approached, or he actively pursues children by becoming a coach of children’s sports, a chaperone of camping trips, or becomes involved in any other activity that allows him to freely, without suspicion, implant himself right in the middle of our children’s lives.

The mask of goodness is so deceiving, that at times even adults are taken in and have absolutely no idea who they are dealing with, until it is made public that the favorite teacher, the guy your child adored has been arrested for possession of child pornography, or the Sunday school teacher who chaperoned the yearly camping trip your child attended every year for the past three years is arrested for sexual assault on a child.

If we haven’t the ability as adults to recognize the evil behind the mask of goodness, then how can we expect our children to? There are no guarantees, but if we as parents instill within our children the dangers of the predator, remain actively involved in their lives and keep the lines of communication open, there is a good chance that we will not become the victim of the mask of goodness.