Teach your child his or her complete
name, how old they are, their address and phone number, (including area
code). Start teaching this at a very early age.
Teach your child the complete use of
the telephone. How to make a local or long distance call by dialing
directly and using the area code where required.
Teach you child how to make a collect
call from a standard phone or a pay phone.
(There are many adults who don’t know how to do this.)
Teach your child how to dial 911 and contact the police
or fire departments This would include a standard phone, a pay phone
and that there is no money involved, as well as a cell phone.
Keep all emergency numbers within view of your phone.
Teach your children how to contact you if there is an emergency (for
example; your cell phone number, a relatives phone number or the your
work phone number).
When answering the phone, they should not give out personal
information about themselves or anyone else in the family.
Never tell a caller they are alone. (They can tell the
caller you, they parent is unavailable at the moment and take down a
return number.)
Keep Them Safe When
They Are Home
A child should never answer the door without an adult
present. Even as an adult, you are never under any obligation to answer
a door to a stranger. Ensure your child knows this.
Your children should receive permission prior to going
anywhere. As they get older this turns into the courtesy of letting
you know where they are. The transition is easy and makes for a good
relationship through communication.
Know
Who and What They're All about
Know your neighbors and your child's friends, including
their names, addresses and telephone numbers.
Know what your child’s activities are and where
they will be located. Have the phone numbers and addresses written down
for reference.
Be alert to a teenager or adult who is paying an unusual
amount of attention to your children or giving them inappropriate or
expensive gifts.
Be involved in your child's activities by volunteering
at school, clubs, and sporting events - participate in a neighborhood
watch program.
Be sensitive to changes in your children's behavior.
It can be a signal that you should sit down and talk to your child about
what caused the changes.
Listen to your child; don't disregard their fears. Instead,
let them know that you take their fears and concerns seriously.
Strangers
and The Buddy System
Encourage your children to use the Buddy System whenever
possible.
Talking to strangers should not be permitted from a very
early age and emphatically enforced. When the stranger comes up to you
and your child and tries to talk to the child, let the stranger know
the child does not talk to strangers. If the stranger is offended, no
problem! It is your child and you're enforcing you rules not theirs!
Explain what a stranger is. A stranger is "anyone"
you and your children do not know well. A casual meeting between you
and a person does not make that person not a stranger.
Your children should never answer questions, give directions,
accept gifts or help an unfamiliar person or stranger. Adults should
not be asking a child for help.
Warn your children never to approach a strange vehicle.
If your child is approached by someone in a strange vehicle,
your child should be taught to run in the opposite direction the vehicle
is traveling. They should just run away from the vehicle but the run
OPPOSITE direction from which the vehicle is headed.
Children should understand abduction. Teach your child
the facts about abduction early. If handled simply as another fact of
life, like another coping skill, the child can learn rather than be
needlessly frightened about the topic of abduction.
An important tip for all ages - In an abduction situation
you have a better chance of surviving if you do everything in your power
to avoid being taken to a second location.
Personal
Safety for Your Children
Children should be taught what areas of their body are
private and that they should not be touched by anyone. If they are uncomfortable
at any time, then they should get away from the person or situation.
They should trust their instincts and be encouraged to do so.
Children should be encouraged that if they see someone
suspicious or something that makes them feel uncomfortable they should
be taught to go to safety. If someone unfamiliar approaches them they
should "Scream and Run." They should be encouraged and praised
for doing this and never told you over reacted. Remember it is their
feeling at the time they reacted and did this. It is not your feeling
or that of the strangers.
Instill confidence in your children by always having
open, loving and gentle communication. Learn to listen and once you
start it, continue with it religiously.
Children need love and affection from the key figures
in their life. Pedophiles know this and will use affection in an attempt
to gain their trust and manipulate them.
Coordinate a "Crime Watch or Block Watch" program
in your neighborhood. This will bring your community together to create
a safer environment for all neighborhood children. Call your local law
enforcement agency for more information.
Internet
Safety and Your Children
Place your home computer in the family
room, kitchen or common area so you know when your child is online.
Take the time to see what your child
is doing online and what their interests are. Talk about who your child
may be chatting with or meeting online.
Set a rule that your child never arranges
an in-person meeting with anyone through the Internet, particularly,
without you being present.
Share your child's e-mail account and
password.
Obtain parental control tools that
block access to inappropriate sites and materials on the Internet:
-
This will help you monitor your child's
activity on the Internet.
-
These Internet monitoring and control
tools can be obtained through some Internet Service Providers, bought
from your local computer store, contained in some browsers, or can
be downloaded free from the Internet.
-
Do some research before you purchase
or download any particular parental control to ensure that it will
meet your needs and requirements.
Bookmark
Personal Information and Phone Tips