The Silent Hunt: How to Protect Our Children from Predators Before It’s Too Late

Insights from a Trauma-Informed Coach and Victim Advocate on Prevention, Awareness, and Reclaiming Safety

Predators watch so we need to prepare-Photo by on

Predators don’t always lurk in the shadows. Sometimes, they’re in our homes celebrating alongside us at our child’s birthday party. Or on the sidelines of the soccer field, smiling, offering help and building trust.

As a trauma-informed coach and victim advocate with a background in psychology and social and behavioral science, I’ve worked with countless survivors — many of whom share the same heartbreaking theme: Massive betrayal, violation, and the stripping of their bodily autonomy, often starting in childhood. I not only know this from a professional stance but personally as well. I, too, am a survivor.

These stories don’t usually begin with violence. They begin with trust. And that’s precisely what makes the threat so dangerous. I want to offer more than statistics or generalized advice in this article. I want to offer insight; language, strategy and perspective. Because we cannot protect our children by simply warning them about “bad people.” We protect them by teaching them to recognize manipulation, empowering them with autonomy, and dismantling the silence predators depend on.