Teach Your Children Well
62Children are our worlds most precious resource, but as children, they often lack the skills to protect themselves. It is our responsibility, as parents and teachers, to safeguard children and to teach them the skills to be safe.
According to statistics, most children abducted by being lured into vehicles. It is said that since 1982 the amount of missing children has increased to 44%, about half were 4 to 11 years old, and the others were 12 or older. 74% of the children abducted were girls.
No one likes to think or talk about child abduction. That in itself is why the problem of missing and exploited children is growing every year. As the saying goes, don't be part of the problem, be part of the solution!
Here are some tips that I hope will be of use to help you protect your children and help your children become assertive in protecting themselves. This List is far from complete. The fact is predators will use every inventive and cunning tactic to prey on the innocence of children.
1.Teach your children about the common lures used by abductors.
Often, a kidnapper appeals to victims by asking the child to help find a lost animal. Sometimes, the stranger will ask a child for directions. Occasionally, abductors know the child's name or the names of the child's parents. Perpetrators attempt to use this knowledge to gain the child's trust.
You should tell your children that adults ask other adults for help when they are truly searching for lost pets or when they need any other type of assistance.
In number 2, I will talk about the "code word". Repeat how important the code word is. If a stranger knows the childs name, but does not mention the code word or tries to guess the code word, then that stranger is probably a threat.
2. Practice a secret code word with your children. Choose a word that would not be easy for a stranger to guess.
Use this code word when another adult is required to transport your child, comes to get a child from a park etc. Tell your kids they should never go with any adult for any reason if that person does not know the code word.
Share the code word with your children and other adults you trust. Change the word as often as needed.
3. Teach your kids about strangers. Tell them that a stranger is any adult they do not know. Introduce your children to other parents you trust. Meet the children of these parents, so you will become a familiar face to the kids. Ideally, these children will be able to pick out a few friendly adults in a crowd of strangers. In addition to other parents, your children should know which strangers are safe. Store clerks, police officers, teachers, people who are behind desks in office buildings, mail-carriers and mothers with children are generally safe strangers.
4. Practice screaming with your children. If a stranger attempts to talk to or grab your children, your children should know to shout, "No!" or "Fire!"
5. Stress Parental Permission. Teach your children that they need to always ask for your permission before leaving your home, a friend's home, accepting gifts or money, rides etc.Even when they are with a friend or relative have them call you and ask for permission to leave or accept food.
An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure!
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Comments
Thank You, I was inspired to write this after learning of another child who was abducted. This child lived...how many dont?
Child abduction is not limited to the States or Canada, but it is global! Some of the statstics I read, was just sickening.
Yes i remember that song so well...it is apt!
very important hub thank you!
Good tips too.
Thank you pcjunkychick for coming to visit. it is appreciated and yes i agree..this topic is important.
Hope many, many people read your hub and take on board the tips you have laid out in a very understandable way.Sadly we have the same problem here in Australia, so come on Aussies. Excellent hub
Hi Holly,
The problem with statistics for most countries is that they are constantly in a state of flux, so it makes it that much more difficult to get a handle on this terrible problem. Thanks for coming in and being so supportive.
It really is true, we want so much to protect our children, but we dont really talk to them, for causing fear.
As much as we want our children to feel safe, maybe part of that means communicating?
Thank You alexes for a very informative hub on educating your children. Being a parent myself I cannot stress enough that educating your child and making them aware of the pit falls and dangers there are out there is truely important
Hi Walt ( Fred999) -
Thanks for coming in. I remember when my girls were younger ( lol ...no not 100 yrs ago), it was just common sense to talk to them about potential dangers. We used the code word, very successfully. I would choose a word and we would role play, made it a game if you will. I still remember when a friend went to get my youngest from a place, without thinking I had forgotten to give the code word, well..what can i say, my youngest screamed at her and caused a stir. You know what, as embarrassing as the situation was...I can honestly say...I had done it right. Needless to say, I was very careful after that to tell others the code word. Another tip if you will, if you do give out the codeword, then change it after...your children will thank you.
To Your Success,
What an excellent and very important article.
Folks take heed of the article as children are so vulnerable and trusting that it is vital sad to say to instil in them that adults are not always trustworthy people.
Dont just brush this article aside with oh we have no money they will never abduct our child wrong.
Where I live in Africa we have serious problems of child abductions for the use of their body parts with ritual medicines.
Further with the 2010 games many children are being abducted to be prepared for child prostitution.
Both scenarios above have nothing to do with the abductors wanting money from the parents at all.
Mums and Dads seriously wake up and teach your kids before it is too late the potential dangers.
Thanks again Alexes.
Hi Diane,
The importance of posting a hub like this at a time when our nation is overwhelmed with daily news of a missing child is immense. I am sickened when I read articles like the one about Caylee and other missing children.
What has happened to our society where our children are supposed to be cherished and nutured because they are our future, but instead you hear of abuse and neglect in proportions that are staggering.
The tips you've given here are so simple to use. Thanks again for pointing them out to us. You are a treasure!
Jeannie
HI Jeannie:
Thank you for your valued thoughts about this important subject. The sad reality is that this is a global problem.
I am not sure what troubles me the most, the fact that abuse and neglect can happen or the fact that as supposedly enlightened as we are, we still will do nothing to help our children.
This particular hub is about keeping the children safe while they are outside the home enviroment, we need to start talking and teaching the children to protect themselves in a better way. It is normal for a parent to want to protect and to put the children in a cacoon of safety, but that is the wrong approach, at least in my opinion.
It is my sincere hope that by airing this, that maybe parents will start being part of the solution and that by arming the family in a postive way, that we can protect our future in a better way...the children.
To Your Success,
alexes, Important information! Unfortunately our world has changed so much in the last few decades, and it seems kids are really targetted. It's so important to educate our children, yet do it in a way so they are not scared. That can be tricky when children are young. Excellent topic for a hub. Keep on writing. Julie
Thank you Julie for your valued comments, I am glad that by doing this, I am doing my part to raise awareness.
I agree that especially young children can be more of a challenge, when talking about this subject matter, but then I compare it to any danger, it is part of our job to teach them to be safe.
The sad reality is that there have always been predetors, but for a very long time, it is considered not to be talked about in "polite society" not to mention in many if not most cases, it was a form or denial. Time to get it out in the open, talked about and doing things that are proactive!
When my children were small and I am talking 3+ , I made it a game, a very serious game by the way...that way they knew how to deal with different life situations. It was no different than teaching to stay away from any poison?
I guess in the last analysis, I would rather the children have a healthy paranoia ( an oxymoron?) than face those consequences of a broken or even dead body or mind.
Are my words strong enough?
thank you again!
Best Regards,
Diane aka alexes
Thanks Diane,As you probably know, I'm a family man with four girls, none of them that I could consider "out of the woods". Unfortunately is ANYONE out of the woods these days? Is anyone safe?Still is it our youngest, our most innocent, our most vulnerable, that these beasts prey on. Their best and sometimes only protection is communicating with them about the dangers in an appropriate manner, and preparing them for "what to do", because we can't ALWAYS be there with them. These are the moments when the "training" you've provided is perhaps their only protection.The worst thing a parent could do is to neglect ensuring their children are aware and are prepared. It's a shame that we have to intrude on the innocence of childhood to discuss such things, but that's our situation. Society is what it is. It's not bad..we just have some bad people around. Working together and working with kids will help to protect them.
This info was really helpful.. I am a single mom advocate. I like to help single moms understand they can make it, and build a future for themself and their kids; whether through education, business, or self-development. So, when the next partner comes along; they will be in the relationship because they want to; not becuase they need to... Lookng forward to reading more from you..... Jacqi Price
allshookup says:
9 months ago
Good hub!
Don't you ever ask them why, if they told you, you would cry,So just look at them and sigh and know they loooooove you.