Put a metal bracelet on the child with name, address, and phone number.
Write your phone number, including area code, in the tags of all your children’s clothes.
Be aware that the most dangerous places for potential abductions are carnivals, fairs, shopping malls, and public restrooms.
Don’t leave children out of view and unsupervised in public areas.
Accompany children to bathrooms in public areas, even if that means you need to bring a little boy into the girls room, or visa versa. Dad’s, please peek in first and make sure that your child will not see anything you don’t want her seeing before bringing her in.
Make sure your child’s day care facility or school will not release your child to Anybody but you without your permission.
Tell your child they are Never to go with your divorced spouse unless you have told them ahead of time. A great deal of abductions in this country occur with ex-spouses who are resentful of custody arrangements.
Tell your child that if a divorced spouse does keep them longer than they understood they would, to call you right away from anywhere.
Always know where your child is going to play. Have them call you when they get to where they are going as soon as they get there.
When you send your child out alone (which you may do as your child gets older, regardless of what you read or see in the news) ask them, “What are the rules?” or say, “Remember the rules.”
Instruct your child to kick and scream if anyone ever grabs them or tries to pick them up and carry them. ROLE PLAY IT.
Warn your child not to ever let anyone know that he or she is alone in the house. Give them permission to lie. Teach them to say, “My Mom can’t come to the phone right now. Can I take a message?” or tell them to hang up.
Tell your child where to go for help if you are not home.
DO NOT say when you are going out, “Be sure to mind your baby-sitter!” This is a common example of setting your children up for sexual abuse. Encourage them to tell you if anything happens that makes them feel uncomfortable (“Uh Oh” feeling).
Abductors will often try to enlist the aid or sympathy of the child. Tell your child that they should NEVER go with anybody, but should come and ask you for help.
Teach your children the “buddy system”.
Don’t allow your children to wear personalized clothing or carry personalized items.
Tell your child who among your friends and relatives they may accept a ride from or go to for safety. Be sure to use code words.
When you use code words, be sure that you tell your child not to accept a ride with ANYONE who does not give them the right password. Tell your child not to EVER tell ANYONE the password.
Tell you child never to accept a ride home from school unless a). you call the school to have the school tell them it’s okay, or b). the person gives the password, or c). the child calls and checks with you first.
Give our child permission to say “NO” to an adult. Don’t force them to give Aunt Mary a kiss if they don’t want to.
Walk your child’s school route with them, checking for hazards. Avoid vacant lots and fields with bushes as well as alleys which are not well traveled.
Be sure to keep current photos of your child and updated dental records. Also, it would be helpful to have your child finger-printed and blood typed. These are helpful if an abduction takes place.
