Child Safety

How to Help Children Stay Safe in Today's World

May 19, 2009 Francine Brokaw

With all the media coverage and Amber Alert messages along freeway routes, most children have seen or heard something about child abductions.

Children might be more on edge about their own security. Talk to them. Let them know that the odds of that happening to them are remote, but they always need to follow the safety rules.

Things Every Child Should Know

Below are some general safety tips of which all children should be aware.

  • Never to talk to strangers. Except authority figures like police.
  • Never get into a car with anyone they don’t know.
  • If they are approached to help find a lost cat or dog, are offered candy, are asked for directions or told that their parent is in trouble, they should not respond or move toward the other person/vehicle.
  • If approached, they should immediately run in the opposite direction and inform an adult.
  • If a stranger grabs them, they should scream loudly and fight as hard as they can to get away, by scratching, hitting, kicking, and biting if necessary.
  • If they get separated from their parent in a public place, they should not try to find their parent but should go to a person in charge (cashier, security guard, police officer, etc.).

Games to Play to Help Kids Learn to Identify People and Objects

Kids should also know how to describe a person and a vehicle. While at a stoplight, a parent could ask their child to describe the car in the next lane. When walking down the street, a parent should ask their child to describe that person, which should include the skin color, shape of the face, hair color and length, eye color (if they are close enough to see), height (taller/shorter than daddy), weight (bigger/smaller than daddy), and any distinguishing marks (mustache, tattoo, etc.).

Sometimes just knowing they can give accurate descriptions can put a child a little more at ease and make the process easier if they are ever in a situation which requires their recollection of a person or vehicle. This doesn’t necessarily mean a kidnapping or attempted child abduction. There are many situations where being able to accurately describe something or someone can be useful.

Abductions Are on the Rise

According to the FBI’s National Crime Information Center, from 1982 to 2000 the increase of missing persons in the US was up 468%. 85% to 90% of them were juveniles.

May 25 is National Missing Children’s Day. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children suggest parents take 25 minutes to discuss personal safety with their kids. Knowledge is power.

The copyright of the article Child Safety in Law, Crime & Justice is owned by Francine Brokaw. Permission to republish Child Safety in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.