Are Teenage Boys Untrustworthy Predators?

Are Teenage Boys Untrustworthy Predators?

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Guest blogger Pam wonders, "Should teenage boys never be allowed to be babysitters?"

My son recently turned 13 and has two younger sisters. I never thought twice about him babysitting my daughters--in fact, I was thinking, "Hallelujah--free babysitting!" Perhaps he could earn extra money babysitting other kids as well. Then I heard that Dr. Dobson, from Focus on the Family and a respected child psychologist, suggests that boys never be allowed to babysit at all, ever. What does this say to my son and young men in general?

Dr. Dobson prefaces what he says in his book Bringing up Boys by saying, "I'll go a step further to make a controversial recommendation to you parents." Then he presents his argument: "The sex drive in teenage boys is too strong to leave children of either sex in the care of young men, particularly from the age of 16 to 18."

Hold the phone, Dr. Dobson, am I to believe that all young men are capable of doing something as loathsome as sexually abuse children? Dr. Dobson assures me "in the vast amount of circumstances it would be fine, but why take chances?"

I'll tell you why. If I followed the better-safe-than-sorry idea to its conclusion, I wouldn't allow anyone but myself within five feet of my child because I am the only person that I can trust--which would include fathers, grandfathers, uncles--and why not women, too? No thanks! My son is a fabulous person who could be trusted with anyone's child, and I would never want him to feel that society places him in the same category as a sweaty freak cruising MySpace for underage fodder for his vile, disturbed desires.

If you want a babysitter who can build super cool Lego ships, give my son a try.

23 comments so far | Post a comment now >>

I think it depends very much on the child (boy) who is babysitting. I agree there are lovely young men who would be very trustworthy. Having said that, boys at this age are raging with hormones and also need to be watched, or observed. We recently had an incident where a 15 year old who is in the family, smart straight A student, good looking, began telling weird, lightly sexual stories that involve a large male and and a small girl to my daughter, and this story was supposed to be a “secret”. Now I had to watch closely and am always a little on guard, glad I was around so I nipped this quickly and was able to find out these things. He has been in our family for 15 years,you would never know, ever!! So everyone out there ALWAYS be on guard even when you feel you can trust 100%. Just be careful. Educate yourselves on the signs of a pedophile.

- I

Posted 02/25/09 01:59 PM

I agree with Ginny.Parents you have no clue what your kids do when they aren’t around you.Do you really think that you can tell what teen or adult is child abuser and which one isn’t?? Who has kids and thinks hey my son fondles little kids yet it’s happened to millions of girls and boys.Always protect your kids and if that means keeping them from anyone you think might do them harm then ALWAYS do it!!!!

- aduh

Posted 03/07/09 11:18 AM

I would say that boys are too aggressive and risk taking to babysit. I would i no way say that there sex drive is going to make them abuse kids, it is more likley they will bring there girlfriend over and fail to watch the kids. High sex drive is not what makes men abuse children, its a sickness in the mind, even when perves are given drugs to knock there sex drive out they still do stuff as its a mind thing. If anything its teenage boys who are more likley to beat the crap out of child abusers.

- lindsey

Posted 08/22/09 06:23 AM

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