How Parents Can Help Children Avoid Abduction (Part 2/3)

Volume 4 Issue 42

May 2005

Was there anything this boy’s parents could have done to prevent his abduction? His parents may never know unless the boy is found alive but there are things you can do before your child is grabbed by someone.

Check Them Out

Check out all potential babysitters and your child’s older friends. Many times an abductor will get close to a child by babysitting him or her and becoming friends with the child. Know who these people are even if you have to have them checked out by an investigative agency to feel comfortable letting these people be with your child.  If you do not like what you find out about someone then do not have them care for your child or let your child associate with them.

The charge for the high speed Internet access may be cheap insurance against your child being abducted. Of course, if a babysitter is allowed to take your child out of the house, you should know where they are going and when they will be home. You might even give the babysitter a cell phone so you can check up on her and your child.

And, if you place your child in daycare, stick with the licensed centers. Child abusers have been known to run unlicensed daycare centers in homes to get access to children. You may even ask the center if they have cameras with Internet access so using a password you can see what is going on in the center when you wish. This is a new service but may be worth the peace of mind about how the center employees are treating your child.

Do Not Leave Your Child Alone

Do not leave your child alone for a second in public. That second may be all a child abductor needs to grab your child.  Go with your child to the bathroom.

Bathrooms are favorite places of child abusers  Never leave your child alone in your car. There are numerous stories of car thieves who have stolen cars and gotten unwilling passengers with the car. While most car thieves do not want to harm a child (basically the difference in prison sentences between car theft and kidnapping is a motivator), some criminals are so hardened they will kill a child to avoid having him as a witness against them in court.

And, NEVER leave your child alone in the toy department of a store or, even worse, wandering around the mall while you shop. That is an invitation to a child abductor.

On The Streets

Travel with your child on door to door activities like Halloween and school fundraising campaigns. In fact, the reputation Halloween has acquired over the past decade (poisoned candy and now terrorists), you may wish to get together with other parents to hold a Halloween party instead of having the children go door to door. Maybe even that fundraiser for the school or the Scouts could be done another way than the children selling something door to door. You just do not know who is behind the next door your child might knock on these days.

And, if your child has to walk to school or even a friend’s house and you can not be with him, practice before hand how your child should get there and, particularly, places to avoid on the way. IF at all possible, children should walk to places like school in groups and have a trusted adult walk with them.

Point out Safe Houses in your area to your child as places he or she can go if the child feels threatened. These houses usually have a Block Parent sign on them meaning the people inside have been deemed safe for children. If your community does not have safe houses like those in the Block Parent program, now is the time to establish them with the help of your local police.

Do Not Mark Your Child

Yes, those name tags are cute and a great way to keep your child’s belongings separate from those of other children. The tags though are also a way for someone to abduct your child. Your child responds to anyone who knows his or her name as a friend – not a stranger. The name on that coat, hat or even toy tells the abductor your child’s name making him someone the child will trust. In relationship to this, teach your child about strangers. Instruct your child to be wary of people he does not know even if they seem to know him. A child should know that just because someone knows his name does not mean the adult can be trusted.

And, make sure your child knows he can say NO to an adult – even if that adult seems to know you or your child. Your child can say he has to ask you first if he can go with this person or just say NO and get away from the person.

Watch and Listen

Encourage parent and child communications.  Listen to your child when he tells you he does not want to be around someone and find out why. Never belittle your child’s concerns or fears – imaginary or real. And, notice if someone is hanging around your neighborhood. Particularly, notice if that person pays special attention to children (maybe your child). That person may be a child abductor choosing his next victim.

Some people may consider you an overprotective parent but can anyone be overprotective in this day?

Email this article to a friend

Email a friend a link to our web site

Have you seen a safety device you think our readers should know about?
Does your company make or sell a safety device you would like to see featured in this column?
If so, please e-mail the information about the device to Safety Issues.
The purpose of this column is to make your life safer with the use of the latest technology.
Neither Safety Issues nor its affiliated companies are responsible for any opinions expressed in this column.
Thank you for reading this column.

  © 2008 SafetyIssues.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved.