Probably one of my biggest fears as a parent, the prospect of Child Abduction is absolutely terrifying but it is important to remember that the chances of such an occurrence are quite slim and most kids actually do pass through childhood safely.
Although this is true, it’s totally natural to worry about you as a parent can stop this from happening to your children.
One of the many challenges of being a parent is to teach your children to be cautious without filling them with any fear or anxiety. Although some dangers do exist, you lessen the chances that your child will be abducted….
We often try to protect our kids by saying “Don’t talk to strangers” – but many child abductions involve a relative or someone the child knows.
Here are a few lessons to teach your children and what you as a parent can do to be more vigilant:
- Parents should learn when and where kids are most vulnerable in order to better protect them. In an analysis of attempted abductions, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children® (NCMEC) found that many:
- Involved a suspect driving a vehicle
- Occurred between 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
- Occurred when the child was traveling to or away from school
- Involved girls and children between the ages of 10 and 14
- The Internet is a great tool, but it’s also a place for predators to stalk kids. Be aware of your kids’ Internet activities and chat room “friends,” and remind them never to give out personal information. Avoid posting identifying information or photos of your kids online.
- The review conducted by the NCMEC also revealed that 83% of children who escaped the abductor, ran away or kicked and screamed and actually escaped – which means that it’s often best to take action that to be passive. Set up a safety plan for your children by:
- Encourage them to tell a trusted adult whenever anything or anyone makes them uncomfortable.
- Point out places they can go for help when walking places like school and the park.
- Remind them to travel and stay with a group.
- Teach them the tricks would-be abductors use, such as offering money or asking for help.
- Warn them about accepting rides or changing plans without your permission.