Imagine this; you're walking through the grocery store and you look next to you and your child is gone. Panic sets in as you frantically look around you, only to see your child jump around the corner a few seconds later.
Almost all parents have had that scary moment. What do you do? And more importantly, what do your children do?
Each year, tens of thousands of children are kidnapped. Kids disappear on their way home from school, during a trip to the store, even from your yard.
Follow these tips to help prevent your child from becoming a victim of kidnapping:
#1: Never talk to strangers:
Children are curious, outgoing and friendly, naturally. While this is one of the qualities you probably love most about your child, it can also be their downfall. Kidnappers are smooth talking and manipulative. Teach your children never to speak to someone they don't know. Explain to them that if a stranger approaches them, to run away and tell someone they can trust. This being said, it's important that you teach your children the "trustworthy strangers" like policemen, teachers, firemen and store clerks so they know who to they can go to in case of emergencies.
#2: Use the buddy system:
A good parent always has one eye on their child. Teach your child to use this same philosophy with you. Let him/her known that if she loses you, to call out. This is a good proactive technique that teaches awareness. Too often, when children get separated from their parents, they stay quiet. Teach your child to actively call out for you. This will help the "trustworthy strangers" we talked about help your child.
#3: Be aware:
In the age of technology, when kids have all sorts of gadgets to distract them from the real world, it's important to teach your children to be aware of their surroundings. If your child walks home from school or the bus stop alone, teach them not to use an iPod or MP3 device, which makes them an easy target. Teach your children to take note of someone who may be following them by foot or by car.
#4: Numbers are in your favor:
Teach your child that there is safety in numbers. Just as you wouldn't allow a young woman to walk alone after dark, you wouldn't want your child to play alone. If they are old enough to spend time at a park, or a store, teach them to stay within eyesight of a group. Kidnappers prefer to abduct children who are alone, and rarely target those with friends around, especially in a crowded public place.
#5: Self Defense:
Your child doesn't need to be a black belt in karate to know some basic self defense skills. We teach our children to be polite to adults, but it's important to explain to them that if a stranger grabs them, all bets are off. Teach your child the sensitive areas to kick a stranger, like shins, knees and the groin. Tell your child to scream things like "You are not my mommy" as loud as they can to draw attention to themselves.
#6: Use your locks:
When you live in a beautiful place like Northern Michigan, it's tempting to leave your doors and windows open all the time. But sometimes, children are kidnapped right out of the own homes. Be sure to shut and lock all doors if your child is playing alone.
#7: Internet Safety:
These days, the kids on the internet are getting younger and younger. Keep your child safe online by explaining that everybody they have not met in person is a stranger. Teach your kids that it doesn't matter if they have spent time "chatting" with them online; they are still a stranger. Make sure they know not to give our any person information over the Internet, especially their name, phone number, street address or their school. That nice 15 year old girl that lives in the next town older could turn out to be a 45-year-old child kidnapper. Make sure they know that anyone can lie on the internet and just because someone says they are someone, doesn't mean that's true. And last but certainly not least, teach your children that offline meetings should never take place without an adult being present, and in a public setting.
The best way to practice these skills is by using "role-play". Practice how to respond to a stranger, how to act when something scares them, and how to use the internet safely. This will increase your child's confidence and will help make these skills second nature in case they have to use them.
