04/23/2026
Please read!
April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month — a time to better understand how abuse happens, so we can stop it earlier.
Grooming is a process. An abuser builds trust, gradually shifts boundaries, and creates a sense of secrecy or dependence to manipulate a young person.
This isn’t new. These tactics have existed in offline abuse for a long time. What has changed is access.
Today, young people can be reached through games, chat apps, and social platforms. Any online space where relationships can feel real and consistent, even without ever meeting in person. That can make it harder to recognize when trust is being misused.
Understanding how grooming works is one of the most powerful ways to help protect kids. When adults recognize the signs and create space for open conversation, it becomes easier for young people to speak up when something doesn’t feel right.
Awareness is one of the first steps in prevention.
👇Explore our resource guide to learn how grooming happens, and what you can do to help prevent it.
