Child Abduction Prevention

It probably happens to most parents at some point...

You are shopping or out in public with your child and look away for just a few seconds...
You realize the child is gone, out of sight.
It’s a terrifying moment!

A child can slip away from us when:
-- We're not 100% attentive, busy somehow.
-- We get delayed meeting them or separated somehow.
-- Your child sees a fun toy or friend and wanders off.

It can be embarrassing to admit ‘losing’ our child because others might blame or we feel like a ‘bad’ parent... I LOVE my children and would never do anything like this on purpose! But...it can happen.

Child abduction prevention starts with being honest if we've 'lost' our kid, even temporarily...

Well here goes... I’ll start it off and admit I’ve done it.

EXAMPLE 1 - I had my eldest red head daughter in preschool and I forgot to pick her up at the end of the morning session. I had gotten distracted at home with my baby. I suddenly realized what I did, loaded the baby in the car, and zoomed to the preschool. All was well and we weren’t very late, but I felt so embarrassed and ashamed that I would ‘forget’ my precious little girl! ACK!!! I hoped she didn’t know what happened. I had a good cry.

EXAMPLE 2 - I was in a clothing store at a mall with my 2 little ones, and we were all in a tiny dressing room for my 4-year-old to try on clothes. Suddenly, my 2-year-old just decided to ‘take off’ out through the privacy curtain while my hands were busy helping the other one get dressed. I realized what happened and when I looked for her in the dressing room area....NO sign of my toddler!
I was terrified. I called her name....no answer. I searched frantically through the clothes racks and aisles, trying not to think the worst.... I’m scared and angry at myself, thinking "Bad mommy!"
Then....I looked down an aisle and there was my precious red-haired toddler, smiling broadly, in the arms of a female store employee who found her running down an aisle. I was SO relieved, thankful, and emotional!
I knew it could have turned out much differently...

Child abduction preventions starts with being honest. The ‘Center To Prevent Lost Children’ website states: "..a ‘good’ parent will actually admit that it can happen to them and he/she prepares for it."

SO PREPARE!
-- Learn about child abduction prevention tips
-- Use a child harness for your toddler
-- Teach kids what to do if they get separated from family or lost
-- Teach kids about common lures used by predators (see below)

TELL YOUR KIDS WHAT TO DO IF THEY GET LOST:

Some child abduction prevention experts suggest the child seek out a uniformed person like policeman, security guard, park employee or store employee. Youngsters, however, don’t always know what that means or what they look like. Plus, most kids are short and all they can see is our LEGS! Think about it...

I prefer the advice given by The ‘Center To Prevent Lost Children’ and Gavin de Becker (child safety expert):

I really like this advice because even young kids usually know what a mommy looks like. Moms are more eager to help (grandmas too). Women are more apt to stop what they’re doing and be sure the child gets help or is safe. Plus, statistically, women are not as likely to be a sexual predator or someone who would hurt a child.

OTHER CHILD ABDUCTION PREVENTION TIPS:

• Your kids should know your home phone number or cell phone number
• Teach them to dial 911
• Be aware of amusement park information and first-aid centers when you first enter in case you need them later
• Kids should NEVER play in areas they don’t know without their parents
• Kids must always tell where they are going
• Have your child’s name, address, phone number on their clothes or TEMPORARY TATTOO LABELS, (CLICK here to visit SAFETY TAT website for more info)...
• Parents should always carry a current family PHOTO or child’s photo in your wallet or purse or cell phone with child’s hair color, eye color, height, weight, distinctive marks, special needs
• Dress your kids in bright, distinctive clothing, easy to identify
• If you use a stroller and you leave it parked near other strollers for some reason, make sure it’s distinctive somehow with ribbons, balloons, colorful items
• Kids must NEVER enter another home without your parent’s permission
• Kids must NEVER enter another car or vehicle without your parent’s permission
• Teach kids to run away from anyone offering candy or to help find a lost animal
• Teach kids to scream and fight any person who tries to grab them
• When you are reunited after your child gets lost, don’t yell at them (or they'll want to leave). CELEBRATE being back together again.

IF YOU FIND A LOST CHILD:
-- According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC):

• Don’t be afraid to get involved
• Comfort the child but be careful about physically touching the child
• If the child can speak, ask if they’re lost or where their mom or dad is
• Don't ask for too much personal information since the child may have been told not to give out this information to people they don’t know
• If you have a cell phone, contact police and report what happened
• Try to find someone nearby in authority who can help
• Do not take the child far from the immediate location
• Do not put the child in your car and drive off to find help
• Ask people nearby to help

Pedophiles are essentially slick con artists that are usually very friendly likeable people and appear trustworthy. They will patiently groom potential victims over a long period of time. They know how to work their way into the lives of children and teens through hobbies, sports, church, single parents events, and family activities. They know how to befriend people, volunteer for activities involving youngsters, surf the internet to befriend and deceive, babysit for people, coach sports, etc. They especially look for kids who are alone, feel unloved, or want attention from an absent parent.

I RECOMMEND you visit the website Child Lures Prevention.com, which is based on the work of reporter Ken Wooden....WHY?

Ken Wooden is a child safety expert, investigative reporter, who focuses on sexual exploitation of kids. He's interviewed hundreds of convicted sex offenders to discover HOW they would entrap their victims, or "lures". He has appeared on Oprah Winfrey, CNN, Today with Katie Couric, Primetime, etc., with the goal of education and prevention of child molestation and child abduction prevention.

They have also added www.teenluresprevention.com as well for the young teens, who are at risk as go through puberty and beyond. Many molesters prefer this age because of their ignorance and their curiosity. It's important parents and adults talk honestly with their kids about puberty and sex so they won't become a victim of a 'friend' or 'uncle' who offers to explain things to them.

Get this education into the SCHOOLS. The Child Lures Prevention.com website has materials to help you do this.

Get educated about child abduction prevention and share the knowledge!

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