| Unfortunately the reality is, you can't always be with | | | | you allowed them to go with in the first place. |
| your child. Occasionally your child is left in the care and | | | | Occasionally, abductors or child abduction schemes will |
| supervision of other adults. As horrible as it is to | | | | involve a "hand off" of the child, after the child has |
| imagine, the fact is, most child abductions occur by | | | | been allowed to go with someone who is close and |
| close family friends and/or other adults that the child is | | | | familiar to the family. |
| already familiar with. However, here are a few things | | | | Your child should always ask permission to leave the |
| you can teach your child that will empower them with | | | | yard or to go to a neighbors house. Older children |
| the awareness they need to help keep them | | | | should phone home to tell you where they are, |
| safe...even when you can't be there. | | | | especially if they change locations. |
| Let's begin... | | | | Your child should NEVER hitch hike! If your child calls |
| There are "flags" that you can teach your child to be | | | | and needs you pick them up, or needs a ride to go to |
| aware of, that seem to occur on a consistent bases | | | | another location. Stop what your doing and take them! |
| with child abductions. One of those "flags" is that | | | | They could have made a worse decision. They could |
| predators or would be predators often will test their | | | | be avoiding getting in a car with a drunk driver, or |
| potential victims. They will try and see how a child will | | | | avoiding one of the dangers you taught them about. |
| react to seeming innocent situations. They often do | | | | Give them the ride, it's easier than dealing with the |
| this by seeing if the child can "keep a secret." | | | | stress and emotional drain of having a missing child. Or |
| Your child should know to ALWAYS tell you if | | | | even worse yet, identifying your childs body. |
| someone has asked them or wants them to keep a | | | | Teach your child to be home before dark. They may |
| "secret" | | | | give you a hard time, but they will surely thank you |
| That no one should ever, ever touch or attempt to | | | | later in life. And if they find themselves "late," to stay |
| touch them in ANY part of their body covered by a | | | | away from dark or abandoned places. |
| bathing suit. And that they should never touch anyone | | | | And finally, teach your child to To avoid adults who are |
| in these areas either. Explain to them that the body is | | | | waiting around a playground - particularly an adult who |
| special and private. | | | | wants to play with them and their friends. |
| To ask anyone who drives him anywhere, not to | | | | I hope you have found this 3 part series "Child Safety |
| leave him alone in the car-but if he is alone in a car, to | | | | and Child Protection: Easy Steps You Can Take" |
| put up the windows, leaving a "finger" space between | | | | usefull. The information you have been provided was |
| the window glass and the rim, and to lock the doors | | | | compiled by multiple missing child agencies from all |
| and stay near the car horn. If a stranger approaches | | | | over the United States. These are the investigators on |
| the car, he should blow the horn until help arrives. | | | | the front lines of the more than 1.4 Million missing child |
| That she has the right to say NO to anyone who tries | | | | cases that are reported every single year. |
| to take her somewhere, touches her, or makes her | | | | Use the information I have provided for you and don't |
| feel uncomfortable in any way. | | | | take your childs' safety lightly. Practice these child |
| If anyone tries to take them away to yell, "This is NOT | | | | safety and child protection techniques. It's important we |
| my parent!" And keep yelling, even kicking and | | | | all do our part to keeping the children of the world |
| screaming. But ALWAYS use the words "This is not | | | | safe, and out of danger, today, tomarrow, and |
| my parent!" | | | | everyday for the rest of their lives. |
| To never accept a ride with anyone else than who | | | | |