Thursday, December 9, 2010

Ways To Protect Your Kids from Kidnappers

I used to have a Smart Parenting subscription and I have a huge number of magazines stored somewhere. While I was searching for my son's project, I came across this article from Smart Parenting Vol. 2 No. 3 Year 2004 which I want to share with you.

Below are the ways to protect our kids from kidnappers:

1. Know where your kids are at all times
Know your children's friends and be clear with your children about the places and homes they may visit. Make it a rule that you kids check in with you when they arrive or depart from a particular location when there is a change in plans. You should also let them know when you're running late or if your plans have changed so that they can see that the rule is for safety purposes and not to check on them.

2. Never leave children unattended in a car
Children should never be left unsupervised in cars, as the potential dangers to their safety outweigh any perceived convenience. Remind them never to hitchhike, approach a car or converse with anyone who is inside a car whom they do not know or trust, or go anywhere with anyone without getting your permission first.

3. Be involve in your kids' activities
As an active participant, you'll have a better opportunity to observe how the adults in charge interact with your children.

4. Listen up
Pay attention if your children tell you that they don't want to be with someone or to go somewhere. This may indicate more than a personality conflict or lack of interest in the activity or event.

5. Note undue interest
Be aware if someone is showing your children a great deal of attention or giving them gifts. Take the time to talk to your children about the person and find out why the person is acting this way.

6. Teach them to refuse
Tell your children that they have the right to say NO to any unwelcome, uncomfortable, or confusing touch or actions by others. Teach them to tell you immediately if this happens. Reassure them that you're there to help and it is OK to tell you anything.

7. Be sensitive to behavior or attitude changes
Encourage open communication with your kids and learn how to be an active listener. Look for small cues and clues that something may be troubling them, because children are not always comfortable disclosing disturbing events or feelings. If your children do confide in you, strive to remain calm, non-critical, and nonjudgmental. Listen compassionately, and work with them to resolve the problem.

8. Screen your family driver, maids and yayas
Demand police and NBI clearances. Check out references with other families who have employed them. Once you have chosen a household employee, drop in unexpectedly to see how your children are doing. As your children how the experience with them was, and listen carefully to the responses.

9. Practice basic safety skills
Make an outing to a mall or park a learning experience in which your children can practice checking with you, using pay telephones, going to the restroom with a friend, and locating the adults who can provide assistance. Allowing your children to wear clothing or carry items in public that display their names can bring about unwelcome attention from inappropriate people who may be looking for a way to start a conversation with your children.

10. Be available
There is no substitute for your attention and supervision. Being available and taking the time to really know and listen to your children helps build feelings of safety and security.



Kim, USA said...

This is so true. Here in the US women and kids are missing every minute and that scares me a lot. They always end up sexually abuse and killed and thrown someplace. It's scary.