CHILD SAFETY: AGE 2 - 4
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Teach your children their full name, address, and
telephone number including area code. Your children
should know how to use the phone number, as well as
"911" or "0" for "operator" in emergencies. You may
wish to pre-program your home telephone with an
emergency number so the children only has to remember
to dial one digit.
Teach your children that Mom and Dad have other names
too. Make sure they know your first and last names.
Teach your children never to go anywhere with anyone
without always checking first with supervising adult such
as a parent, teacher or babysitter.
Teach your children to stay at your side in public places
and never to leave the store if he/she is lost. Explain to
your children that people who stand at a cash register
and take money work for the store. Teach your children
to go to these people if they are scared or lost and they
will know how to find you.
Teach your children a secret family code word and to
never to go with anyone who doesn't know the code
word.
Teach your children to play within your sight.
CHILD SAFETY: AGE 5 - 7
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Have your child practice the buddy system when going
anywhere. There is safety in numbers.
Caution your child against playing in deserted areas.
Remind them to stay on the main road.
Teach your child they do not always have to be polite to
adults. If they sense danger, make a scene and yell for
help; "Help! This is not my mom/dad!" and run away.
Explain to your child that abductors are sometimes
people they know.
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Beware of any adult who gives lots of attention or gifts. If
any adult is making the child feel uncomfortable, teach
your child to come and tell you.
Begin to make your children aware of their surroundings
so that they become used to taking notice of details and
recognizing safe places.
Teach you child the facts of abduction early. If handled
simply as another fact of life or as another coping skill,
children need not be frightened.
Help build you child's self esteem. Children who are
confident and feel loved are less often lured by
abductors.
CHILD SAFETY: AGE 8 - 10
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Identify safe places and people in your neighborhood or
on route to school where your children might go to find
help if needed. Let them know that if they are afraid,
they should go to these places.
Establish solid communication with your children. Develop
open dialogue so they are able to confide in you in case
of trouble.
Teach your child to avoid people they don't know. Make
sure they know to never get into a car with anyone
without your permission.
When going out shopping or to a park, designate with
your child a specific place to meet if you and your child
become separated.
CHILD SAFETY: AGE 11 - 14
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Teach your children never to open the door to anyone
while at home alone, including salespeople or delivery
people.
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Explain to your child never to answer the phone and tell
the caller that he/she is home alone. Give your child a
prepared statement such as "Daddy/Mommy cannot
come to the phone right now…can I take a message?"
Teach children that adults do not usually ask children
directions. If someone should stop in a car asking for
directions, tell your child not to approach the car, and to
run away immediately.
Teach older children to come home before dark, and to
check in if they have a change in plans.
CHILD SAFETY: AGE 15 - 18
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Be aware of your child's friends, their parent's names and
phone numbers.
Know your child's schedule and the activities they
participate in after school. Ask your child to always call
home if their routine changes.
Caution you child about adults who might try to recruit
him/her to carry packages out to a car or suggest that
the child come with him or her for any reason. Abductors
may flatter your child or offer money to accompany them
under a false pretense.
Most importantly. Build open and honest
communications with your child