Duck Duck Groom: Understanding How a Child Becomes a Target Paperback – December 31, 2022

Grooming Doesn’t Start with Abuse. It Starts with Access.Before harm happens, a process unfolds.Trust is built. Defenses are lowered. Attention is given. Lines are slowly redrawn.Duck Duck Groom is a prevention-focused guide that breaks down how grooming actually works-behaviorally, psychologically, and relationally-so adults can recognize targeting patterns before a child is harmed.Written by licensed therapist and child safety expert Anna Sonoda, LCSW, this book translates clinical insight into practical detection tools for parents, educators, clinicians, and youth-serving organizations.Because protection is strongest when adults understand the setup, not just the outcome.What This Book ExposesGrooming is not random. Offenders select, test, and condition environments long before abuse occurs.Inside, you’ll learn how predators:Identify vulnerable or accessible childrenBuild trust with families and institutionsUse flattery, favoritism, and special accessNormalize secrecy and rule-breakingIsolate children from protective adultsGradually desensitize physical and emotional limitsThe book reframes grooming as a pattern of adult behavior, not a child’s failure to resist.A Prevention Framework, not a Fear FrameworkRather than focusing on worst-case outcomes, Duck Duck Groom equips adults to intervene early by recognizing:Targeting behaviorsTesting behaviorsTrust-building manipulationInstitutional blind spotsFamily vulnerability factorsReaders gain language, pattern recognition, and response strategies grounded in real clinical dynamics.Who This Book Is ForEssential reading for:Parents and caregiversTherapists and cliniciansSchool counselors and educatorsCoaches and youth leadersFaith-based children’s ministriesChild advocacy professionalsIt is especially valuable for adults responsible for screening, supervising, or safeguarding children in group settings.What You’ll GainA clear model of how grooming unfoldsEarly detection indicatorsAdult behavior risk signalsEnvironmental risk factorsConversation tools for familiesPrevention strategies for organizationsThis is a proactive protection manual.Why Understanding Targeting Changes EverythingWhen adults only look for abuse, they miss the grooming that precedes it.When adults learn to spot targeting, they interrupt the pathway to harm.Duck Duck Groom gives readers the awareness to step in sooner, ask better questions, and hold safer standards around children.Because children are rarely targeted by accident, and adults can learn to recognize the incremental process of grooming. Read more