| From a very young age, kids may be in | | | | strangers, but to find an adult if they need help. |
| dangerous situations without realizing it. At such a | | | | Instruct your children about the types of adults |
| tender age, kids are often naive to the risks of | | | | they can trust, such as police officers in uniforms. |
| being assaulted or harmed, especially by adults. | | | | Many parents also teach their kids to approach |
| Children may be bullied by larger kids, kidnapped, | | | | mothers with children, because they believe that |
| robbed, or assaulted. How do you prepare your | | | | moms will be safe strangers and sympathetic to |
| children for such scenarios without scaring them? | | | | the child's plight. |
| Countless parents are wondering exactly that. | | | | Give your child ways to fight back. In addition to |
| Here are a few techniques for keeping your | | | | running away from a possible danger, tell them to |
| children safe: | | | | scream at the top of their lungs to get an adult's |
| Teach them safety basics. As early as possible, | | | | attention. There are also personal alarms, shaped |
| teach kids their phone number and address so | | | | like child-friendly animals, designed to help kids get |
| that they can reunite with you quickly if ever | | | | the attention of adults in an emergency situation. |
| separated. Your children should also have access | | | | Older children and teens may be responsible |
| to your work phone numbers and know how to | | | | enough to carry pepper spray or similar self |
| reach you at all times. They should also know | | | | defense devices. Children are often taught that |
| how to dial 911, and how to seek out a | | | | adults are authority figures who must be followed, |
| trustworthy adult if they need help in a shopping | | | | but if you want to keep your child safe from the |
| center or other public place. These basics will | | | | dangers posed by strangers, you must teach |
| enable your children to contact the proper adults | | | | them when it's okay to not follow an adult's |
| when they need to. | | | | directions. |
| Teach them how to identify dangers and how to | | | | Children are often very unaware of the potential |
| react. It is important for your children to be able | | | | for danger. Unfortunately, parents must prepare |
| to recognize potentially dangerous situations, such | | | | their kids to protect themselves. When it comes |
| as a stranger trying to lure them away from their | | | | to self defense and your children, your methods |
| parents. Children must also be taught about | | | | should be tailored to your child's age and level of |
| appropriate touching. Work to improve your child's | | | | understanding. While all children should know that |
| ability to observe and understand the things going | | | | there are dangerous people in the world, many |
| on around them. Teach your child to run away | | | | parents wish to protect them from this |
| from strangers who approach them. | | | | knowledge as long as possible. Still, it is important |
| Teach them who to trust. Young children are | | | | to give your child the tools he or she needs to |
| often confused by instructions to avoid all | | | | stay safe from harm. |