Missing Children

As the number of missing children making headlines becomes more alarming every day, it is vital that parents are aware of this disturbing trend and take steps to ensure the safety of their children.

While responsible parenting is about being aware of the danger faced by our children and trying to protect them, it is also about educating them. The following are important tips in educating your children:

• If your child is old enough, teach him or her, their home address and your telephone numbers. It is also a necessity for them to know the emergency number by heart.
• Sensitise them about "stranger danger" and why they should avoid unknown people. If they feel they are being followed, or a stranger ask them to get into a car, they should run to the nearest public place and scream for help.
• Children should always check with parents before accepting favours from anyone - even people known to them.
• Develop a plan of action with your children for what to do if they get lost in a public place for instance going to the information desk of a shopping mall and wait there for your.

When the bad dream should happen and your child is indeed missing, remember the urge would be there to panic, but you need to stay focussed. Don't waste time, immediately check with relatives, your child's friends, school and usual hangouts to establish that he or she is not there. Then immediately report the disappearance to the nearest police station, giving them a photograph of your child and a description of what he or she was wearing at the time of the disappearance.

Take note of anything missing from your child's room, as this may indicate a possible runaway. Get the community involved with searching, as they may have information or spot something that you've overlooked.

Often a missing child is found and the drama is only the result of miscommunication. Despite this all situations in which a child goes missing must be taken seriously and acted upon. The first 24 hours after a child went missing, is the most crucial.

Although it's every parent's worst nightmare, with increased awareness by both children and parents, society could be able to bring down the high number of children who disappear. Remember, childhood is meant to be a carefree time: let's try to keep it that way!