Teach your child to recognize dangerous situations, and arm them with the following tools to avoid or effectively respond to them.
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Establish a very specific list of people your child has permission to go with or get rides from: (e.g. Specific family members, babysitter, anyone you feel you can trust your child with)
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Establish a password or secret code system.
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This should be utilized when you need someone else other than the usual person to pick your child up, in emergencies, etc. Teach your child that if someone comes to pick them up, the person must know the password. If the person cannot repeat the password to your child, the child should refuse accompany this individual and go to the nearest trusted adult. (Note that once the password has been used outside of your family, a new password should be initiated)
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Whenever possible, you should inform all concerned parties that someone else will be picking up your child. If the child is at school, call the office and tell them who will be picking up your child, for example.
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Tell your child that under no circumstances are they to enter someone’s home, enter someone’s vehicle, or go with someone unless they have received your permission to do so or the person has given your child the password (see number 2).
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Establish a list of people your child is allowed to approach for help e.g. teachers, police, neighbours, block parents, store clerk, etc. However, instruct your child that they must never enter the homes or vehicles of these peopl unless they have been given your permission to do so.
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Establish a plan of action for your child regarding what they should do in various scenarios. For example, you may teach your child that if they are separated from you at the shopping mall they can seek assistance from a store clerk, and information booth, a security guard, etc. Do the same for various scenarios e.g. outdoor events, amusement parks, theatres, on the street, etc.
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On family outings, establish a pre-arranged meeting area in the event that you and your child become separated.
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Periodically quiz your child on different scenarios of potentially dangerous situations and the different lures that predators might use to gain their trust. Ensure they are armed with a variety of effective responses to these situations.
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Practice talking to the operator, making collect calls, using a pay phone, calling 911, sending email, etc.
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Teach your children that if someone they don’t know calls them by name, they should stay away from them. The person may have heard someone else call the child by name or seen the child’s name on a booklet or binder. Ensure that your child’s name is not displayed on their jacket, backpack, binders, etc., to avoid this potentially dangerous situation.
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Encourage your child to use the buddy system. They should travel in groups and avoid poorly lit, isolated areas.
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Never leave your child alone. Attend your children, especially if they are younger, to the washroom, and don’t let them wander around alone in a mall, on a beach, etc.
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Make sure your child understands that it is okay to say "no" when they feel threatened or uncomfortable.
- Teach your children how to draw attention to themselves by yelling, kicking, and fighting back when they are in danger or feel threatened. With smaller children, abductors may try to convince passersby that the child is their own, and is just throwing a tantrum. Teach the child to shout help, this is not my parent, I’m being abducted, etc.