"If we vouch for the stranger then she can trust them fully."

NO! NO! NO!

Child molesters look like everyone else. You know some, but you just don't know it. Strangers who grab children make the headlines, but they are a very small minority.

Most child victims KNOW their molester. He is someone who deliberately puts himself in situations where there are children. He is a Scout leader, a Big Brother, a teacher, a neighbor, a church member or a relative. He creates an aura of trust with both the child and the child's parents. In fact, the illusion he creates often makes the parent call their child a liar when he/she tells of an incident.

Don't get too complacent about the people you know. There are websites that give the name, photo, description and the street where molesters live in your town. Unfortunately, only the convicted ones are listed. There are thousands of them who have never been caught & labeled.

Parents who direct every facet of their kid's life and thinking are just training them to obey a molester. Your child needs to know that they can draw a line with anyone they know, and you will back them up. ANYONE. And that means if they don't want to kiss Aunt Martha or Uncle Ed, they don't have to, even if the reason is just because they don't like their cologne.

Here is one site that will give you some ideas: http://childrentoday.com/resources/articles/sexabuse.htm
You can find others by searching on 'prevent molestation' or 'prevent sex abuse'.

Always keep the channels of communication open. Let your child know that you will always listen to them, and then DO IT. Get away from knee-jerk reactions. And don't just wait for a child to tell you, watch his/her reactions to people. If your daughter seems to love everybody but doesn't like to be within reach of Uncle Charlie, there could be a reason.

Don't be one of those stupid parents who thinks they know everything. There are more than enough of them as it is.

Sue