FollowStreetproofing Your Child
It is a sad and startling statistic but there are around one million children that go missing every year in the United States. As a parent, it is important that you educate your children on how to be safe when they are away from you.
Avoid using the word stranger- It is important that when you talk to your kids about being safe that you don’t use the word stranger. Kids believe that strangers are scary looking guys with long hair and scruffy beard. However, we know that is not always the case since abductors can be clean shaven men or even women.
Teach your children to run away from danger- Be sure your children know that when they encounter a dangerous situation, they need to run the opposite way and not towards it. It is important that they know that a dangerous situation is one where their personal space is invaded. For instance, if they are being followed by a car, they need to turn around and run to a trusted adult or they need to yell and scream very loud.
Do not let your children go anywhere alone- This may be something that is obvious to most parents but it bears repeating. Always make sure that your children either go somewhere with you or another trusted adult. If you have older children, ensure that they have a friend or two with them whenever they go places.
Teach them how predators try to gain their trust- Predators will often try to be a child’s friend by asking them for help. For instance, they may ask a child for help looking for a lost dog or they may ask them for directions to a popular place in town like a restaurant. Other tactics that are used include pretending to be an undercover police officer or saying that their parents sent them to pick them up. It is important that your children tell you when someone tries to make friends with them.
Have a secret family code word- You should have a secret code word that only you and your children know. Choose a word that is not easy for anyone to figure out. If someone approaches your children to pick them up, ensure the person knows this code word. If the person doesn’t know the code word, they are not to get in the car. If you have a friend or relative picking up your children, be sure they know the code word.
