RA Home School Association at 85-25 61st Road, Rego Park, NY 11374 US - Protecting your Child from Abduction (AOL Parenting/LHJ.Com)

Protecting Your Child from Abduction

Children under age 5 should always be under the direct supervision of a parent or guardian.

·         Help your child memorize his full name, address, and phone number.

·         Teach your child how to call home from a pay phone.

·         Make sure your child knows to call 911 in emergency situations.

·         Let your child know she has certain rights of privacy.

·         Teach your child the difference between a "good" touch and a "bad" touch.

·         Teach your child to recognize the types of "low-risk" individuals he may ask for help if he is lost -- including police officers, firefighters, school crossing guards, elderly women, and women accompanied by children.

·         Make sure your child knows another adult, besides her parents, whose help she may seek if she is hurt.

Kids over the age of 5 begin to test boundaries. Grant your child enough freedom to help him develop confidence and independent thinking. However, be careful not to let your child get into a situation he can't handle. Parenting expert Faull recommends playing "what if" games to see how your child might react when confronted with challenging situations.

·         Encourage your child to pair up with a friend whenever she is away from you. Predators rarely focus on kids who aren't alone.

·         Require your child to check in with you before he leaves one site where he is playing and heads for another.

·         Make sure your child knows never to get into a car without your permission and to stay well away from strangers' vehicles.

·         Encourage your child to be a bit suspicious of strangers' motives.

·         Teach your child that the proper reaction to being accosted by a stranger is to yell "No," and run away.

·         Require your child to report to you when anyone -- even a relative -- asks your child to keep a secret or offers her money or gifts. Similarly, your child should always let you know if someone -- known or unknown -- wants to take her photograph.

·         Let your child know that people sometimes use tricks to lure children away from their homes. Make sure your child understands that adults should ask other adults rather than children for directions or help finding something, such as a lost puppy or kitten.

·         Consider making up a "secret password" only the family knows. This way, if someone approaches your child, saying he was sent by you or another family member, the child can ask for the password.

·         Teach your child "home-alone" safety.

·         Teach your child to recognize the types of "low-risk" individuals she may ask for help if she is lost, including police officers, firefighters, school crossing guards, elderly women, and women accompanied by children.

·         Teach your child to trust his "gut" instincts. If your child is feeling unsafe or uncomfortable, he should run and seek help.

·         Make sure your child knows another adult, besides you, his parents, that he might confide in if for some reason he felt he couldn't come to you.

You can begin by setting up a system of checks in your home and family. When you leave the house, always tell your children where you are going and when you'll be back. When you ask the same of them, they will have a good example to follow. Also:

·         Encourage your kids to talk. Experts say kids who speak with their parents openly and regularly develop higher levels of self-esteem and assuredness, which makes them less vulnerable to predatory behavior.

·         Know your kids' friends and each friend's parents. Have contact lists readily available.

·         Know your neighbors. They will look out for your child.

·         Establish a parental "backup," -- someone your child can go to in case of an emergency where a parent is not available.

·         Do you live in a neighborhood with a block organization? If there are safe houses, make sure your child is aware of them.

·         Do your children attend afterschool programs or day care? Inquire about the screening procedures at these places your child attends without you.

·         Don't buy clothing that advertises your child's name. A stranger may use this information to give your child the impression that he is a friend.

Morgan Bailey is a freelance writer living in New York whose articles have appeared in Parenting magazine, Parenting.com, and Family.com.