|
Is there any worse nightmare for a parent than to find out your child has been hurt or abducted by someone? Although there is little a five year old can do when pitted against a six foot, 200-pound man, there are a few things you can do to aide in your child’s safety.
Secret code – All children should be taught a secret code that only you two know. In the case you actually need to have someone pick your child up, give them the code word/phrase too. Teach your child to always ask for this code before going with anyone.
Any stranger hanging around a school- yard can find out a child’s name just by sitting and listening to the children play. They can then go up and calmly say, “Vicki? Hi, your mom sent me to pick you up. She has been held up and wanted you to come with me.” So many times a child will fall for this. Once you believe your child has learned this, test them. Ask a friend or co-worker whom the child doesn’t know to try to get your child to go with them. If your child obeys the rule, make sure you reward and praise her.
Uniforms- Many times a uniform will get a child to do what they are told. Teach your child to be wary of a person in uniform that tells them to come along. If this is truly a police officer, they will need to have gone through the principle to get to your child. They will not mind going and verifying their presence with a school official. If possible, try to test your child on this one as well.
Lost Dogs-One of the most common ploys for children is the “I have lost my dog, have you seen it?” These people will often have a photo to show. Your child must move closer to see this and once within arm’s reach, they are in serious danger. Teach your child to stay away from strangers and to reply, “No, let me go ask my mom.” If the dog owner is legitimate, they will not mind waiting. Parents need to be wary of this ploy too. It has proven to be extremely effective against women so keep your own distance from these people if they do wait around to talk to you.
Cars-Teach your child to stay at least six feet away from a car when a stranger stops to ask them a question. It is best to just have them reply to any query with, “I don’t know, let me ask my mom/dad.” Once a child gets within arms reach of a person in a car, they can be in mortal danger. Pulling a child through a window doesn’t take much effort. Children could also find someone suddenly opening the sliding door of a van and being yanked inside. Sliding doors are also a danger to adults so be careful.
Saying no-For most parents, it is difficult to imagine wanting to teach a child to say no. They say it all the time on their own. Teaching a child to say no means to give them the power to stop unwanted physical touch. No child should be made to give kisses or hugs when they don’t wish to. Insisting on a child accepting these types of contact will often give child molesters an advantage. The child doesn’t say no because she/he has been taught it is wrong to do so.
| 
