Due to the recent unfortunate, sad and untimely death of a young Missouri girl that was abducted this week, I thought it would be helpful to provide some prevention advice and information to parents. I always encourage parents to talk to their children about the dangers of strangers and safety planning but not many know what to say to their kids. Here are some tips on what to say to children to prevent stranger abductions.
1. Strangers do not look like monsters. In fact, they blend in well with others. Remind children to never speak to adults they do not know.
2. Explain to children that a stranger can try and befriend you or trick you by gaining your trust by using stories like mom or dad have been hurt or they asked me to check on you or pick you up. These efforts need to be ignored and reported to parents or a trusted adult immediately.
3. Please never leave your children unsupervised. If they need to walk to school, try and make sure that they are in a group or with a trusted adult. If you walk with your child to school as I do, be aware of other's children walking alone and keep on eye out. Also, if your child has a phone have them call you when they are walking alone.
4. Tell children to stay away from cars. Strangers will try to entice children and then grab them.
5. Role play. Teach them proper ways to respond to an attempted abduction. Run and yell! Do not scream it may sound like a temper tantrum... be specific.
6. Say these cues:
"HELP. THIS IS NOT MY MOM OR DAD"
"I'm being KIDNAPPED" "CALL THE POLICE"
It would also be helpful to know your neighbors or set up a neighborhood watch. When you do so you and your kids know who is supposed to be in your neighborhood and who is not. Also, report suspicious activity.
For more information on prevention, safety planning and neighborhood watch, go to the following websites:
www.ncpc.org
kidshealth.org
1. Strangers do not look like monsters. In fact, they blend in well with others. Remind children to never speak to adults they do not know.
2. Explain to children that a stranger can try and befriend you or trick you by gaining your trust by using stories like mom or dad have been hurt or they asked me to check on you or pick you up. These efforts need to be ignored and reported to parents or a trusted adult immediately.
3. Please never leave your children unsupervised. If they need to walk to school, try and make sure that they are in a group or with a trusted adult. If you walk with your child to school as I do, be aware of other's children walking alone and keep on eye out. Also, if your child has a phone have them call you when they are walking alone.
4. Tell children to stay away from cars. Strangers will try to entice children and then grab them.
5. Role play. Teach them proper ways to respond to an attempted abduction. Run and yell! Do not scream it may sound like a temper tantrum... be specific.
6. Say these cues:
"HELP. THIS IS NOT MY MOM OR DAD"
"I'm being KIDNAPPED" "CALL THE POLICE"
It would also be helpful to know your neighbors or set up a neighborhood watch. When you do so you and your kids know who is supposed to be in your neighborhood and who is not. Also, report suspicious activity.
For more information on prevention, safety planning and neighborhood watch, go to the following websites:
www.ncpc.org
kidshealth.org
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