Keeping Kids Safe
Had a chance to do a lot of reading lately, and decided to tackle a stack of women’s magazines. Leafed through each of them, cutting out articles for future reference, as well as pictures for use in my scrapbook. (I figure that since I haven’t been able to blog that much lately, will instead post articles here on my blog, and hope it can be of use to others.)
One such article I found and cut out has something to do with keeping your kids safe. In the US, so many children are reported missing, either abducted by strangers or even their estranged family members. A number also are runaways. Being a mother, reading about the abductions gave me chills, and so I decided to cut out the accompanying tips on how to keep kids safe. Read on:
8 Ways to Keep your Child Safe
Over 2000 children are reported missing every day. How can you help protect your child from those who intend him harm? Safety expert Tom Patire, founder of CDT Family Protection Training Centers, offer these tips:
Ø Talk to your child about safety. Gently explain that some people do bad things and want to hurt children. Make sure your child understands that “bad guys” can seem friendly.
Ø Don’t give your child personalized clothing or school gear. An abductor can gain her trust simply by using her name.
Ø Create a family code word. Instruct your youngster never to go with anyone who doesn’t know the secret code word.
Ø Have your child team up. There is increased safety in numbers, so whether your child is heading to school, the park, the movies, anywhere, he should always go with friends.
Ø Explain the difference between a “good touch” and a “bad touch”. Tell your child that no one should touch her in her private areas (those parts covered by a bathing suit). If anyone does, she should shout, “No, don’t touch me there!” and be sure to tell you about it.
Ø Describe dangerous situations. Kids like to be helpful. An abductor will often exploit that by asking for help finding a lost pet. Teach your child never to aid an adult who’s looking for a lost puppy or kitten.
Ø Show your child whom to trust. Tell him that if he gets lost or separated from you, he should go to a trustworthy adult, such as a police officer, security guard, store personnel, a mom with children or a pregnant woman and ask for help.
Ø Make an identification kit. It should contain recent photos of your child (no more than a month old), his fingerprints, photos of birthmarks and scars, his medical information, and a DNA sample stored in a sealed plastic bag (strands of hair with the root attached, a tooth, or a foam swab that has been rubbed on the inside of your child’s cheek).
-Natasha Persaud, Family Circle 11/25/03, p. 54.
One such article I found and cut out has something to do with keeping your kids safe. In the US, so many children are reported missing, either abducted by strangers or even their estranged family members. A number also are runaways. Being a mother, reading about the abductions gave me chills, and so I decided to cut out the accompanying tips on how to keep kids safe. Read on:
8 Ways to Keep your Child Safe
Over 2000 children are reported missing every day. How can you help protect your child from those who intend him harm? Safety expert Tom Patire, founder of CDT Family Protection Training Centers, offer these tips:
Ø Talk to your child about safety. Gently explain that some people do bad things and want to hurt children. Make sure your child understands that “bad guys” can seem friendly.
Ø Don’t give your child personalized clothing or school gear. An abductor can gain her trust simply by using her name.
Ø Create a family code word. Instruct your youngster never to go with anyone who doesn’t know the secret code word.
Ø Have your child team up. There is increased safety in numbers, so whether your child is heading to school, the park, the movies, anywhere, he should always go with friends.
Ø Explain the difference between a “good touch” and a “bad touch”. Tell your child that no one should touch her in her private areas (those parts covered by a bathing suit). If anyone does, she should shout, “No, don’t touch me there!” and be sure to tell you about it.
Ø Describe dangerous situations. Kids like to be helpful. An abductor will often exploit that by asking for help finding a lost pet. Teach your child never to aid an adult who’s looking for a lost puppy or kitten.
Ø Show your child whom to trust. Tell him that if he gets lost or separated from you, he should go to a trustworthy adult, such as a police officer, security guard, store personnel, a mom with children or a pregnant woman and ask for help.
Ø Make an identification kit. It should contain recent photos of your child (no more than a month old), his fingerprints, photos of birthmarks and scars, his medical information, and a DNA sample stored in a sealed plastic bag (strands of hair with the root attached, a tooth, or a foam swab that has been rubbed on the inside of your child’s cheek).
-Natasha Persaud, Family Circle 11/25/03, p. 54.
posted by shy @ 11:16 AM
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