Protecting your children from child abduction

Parents work hard at keeping their children safe. You teach your children the dangers of a hot stove, keeping fingers out of electrical outlets, and holding hands to cross a street. However, many parents neglect to teach their children how to prevent becoming a statistic. 800,000 children are reported missing  in the United Stated each year. Below are outlined lessons parents can use in protecting your children from child abduction.

The most important way a parent can be a part of preventing child abduction is to teach their children to be aware. Strangers should always equal danger; lost puppies don’t need anyone other than their owners; candy is never right around the corner. Parents need to make children aware of others with negative intentions and how to attract public attention when faced with a situation where they no longer feel “in charge.” Children need to be taught to trust their instincts. It’s okay to use their voices to scream “No” or “Help,” and their hands and feet to pull away.

Parents can further protect their children from child abduction by understanding what to do in case of separation. In a public area, children should recognize employees in uniform as ‘safe’ adults and a help in locating parents. Should families become separated, children need to know to look for help, rather than being their own search party.  Children wandering parking lots are not only obstacles to drivers, but can become targets for potential abductions.

Older children also need to be protected. Parents should be aware of teenagers’ schedules for school, sports teams and work. If teens are old enough to explore a mall or theme park with a friend, parents should pre-arrange a meeting place and time; and guarantee cell phones are well-charged. Review your child’s online friendships are with people you know and conversations are appropriate. Make immediate changes in sites if you are not comfortable. 

Regularly reviewing the safety suggestions above will assist parents in protecting your children from child abduction. However, there is another proactive step parents can take. Signing up for Amber Child Safety will allow for added piece of mind. Amber Child Safety is a program which allows the parents of an abducted child to focus on quick recovery, rather than the details of a police report. Parents can upload pictures, video, and daily routine information for their children, as well as the names and addresses of friends, coaches, teachers and relatives. Amber Child Safety’s top priority is the safe recovery of missing and abducted children.