Tuesday, April 22, 2014

To Remain Safe Child Abduction Awareness Must Be Taught To Youngsters

By Essie Osborn


The modern world presents many new responsibilities to parents. There may be toxic waste in the water supply. Food may contain carcinogens. Prior to starting school, the child is relatively safe at home with the parent. But, when school age, the safety is not always under parental control. Due to predators, child abduction awareness must be taught to children of all ages.


There are many organizations concerned with instructing children on how to remain safe from sexual predators. Private and public agencies, including law enforcement, are all involved to some degree. There are parents who lost a child to a pervert who begin an organization focused on keeping other children from the same end.

Publicizing the dangers present in modern life does provide some help. Announcements are made on television. Amber alerts are put out when someone is kidnapped. It is a difficult thing to impress children about the danger that can come from strangers. It is even more difficult to explain that a predator may be a relative or friend.

There was a time, not too long ago, when religious leaders, teachers and basketball coaches were assumed to be beyond reproach. Kids could respect those in positions of authority. It is simple to warn about strangers and the danger they may pose. But, it is quite another thing to have to suspect a pastor or priest. How can that be explained.

There are some methods of protection that are not the whole answer to the problem, but, provide some degree of safety. Children can be taught not to go close to a stranger in a car. They can be warned what to do if a stranger asks them to help look for a lost puppy.

Not accepting a ride home with anyone can be a firm rule. But, when an old friend of the family offers one, will they get in the car or not. A teacher will not allow a child to leave school until a parent or some other designated adult calls for him or her.

A test was carried out by one protective group. They approached children in a parking lot and asked for help to find a lost pet. The children seemed to ignore all the precautions their parents had depended on. They went along into the park with the friendly-looking adult who was sad about his lost pet.

When a small child is told that if they are kidnapped they may never see their parents again, they do not understand fully. On television, they see people die and somehow always return afterwards. How can the little ones grasp the realty of death, that it lasts forever.

Teen-age kids can be taught to rely on their own instincts. When they feel apprehensive about a situation, they should be told to get away from there as fast as possible. Unfortunately, the predator may not allow them to escape.

Parents are advised to be prepared to help locate their child if he or she goes missing. They should have a recent snapshot, a lock of hair including roots and a set of fingerprints available. They should take note of the clothes he or she wears to school. It is a tragedy that whole families must suffer the fear of an abduction due to these dangerous predators who walk free in society.




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