Prevent Child Abduction by Using Safety Secret Words

The United States Department of Justice reports show that an average of 2,185 children are reported missing each day. This is an average total of 797,500 children per year. This is an awful a lot of children missing from loved ones homes and arms but not from their hearts. When your child is missing, the heartache and worry is unexplainable. The "not knowing" of where your child is, who is with them and what are they going thru are constantly going thru your mind. However there's always that hope and faith that your child will be found alive soon. This is real scary just to think about and imagine. Reality, it happens and it is a part of life. However as parents we can learn on how to keep our children safe in many ways. Specifically I want to discuss with you the safety secret word or phrase. This is used in addition with the other typical safety tips to educate our children more in order to better avoid child abductions. Due to that I want to focus on mostly using the secret word or phrase I have also provided links to additional safety tips and information at the bottom of this page. Please check these out as well, as anything that can be taught to our children for their safety is well worth it.

We can only do so much to protect our children the best that we can. Teaching our children safety measures are a very important factor in keeping them safe. Every household should create an easy remembered secret word or phrase to use in the event that some one else has to pick up your child(ren). This may or may not be a person that is familiar to your child(ren). However something has came up and you cant be present to pick up your child(ren). Therefore you assign another person to arrive for the child(ren) in event of your absence. It is so imperative to use a secret word or phrase even if the child(ren) does know the person that is taking them. It is very important that you also realize that more child abductions occur within family than by strangers.

Use your imagination and allow your child(ren) if possible to come up with the word or phrase in order to ensure that it will be remembered easier for them. Many parents may think that they wouldn't have to worry about this due to that they are always there for the child(ren)'s arrival. However this is strongly needed in the event of emergencies. Children are innocent and if not taught well, would be willing to believe that a member of the family or a stranger may have been sent to get them since their parents couldn't make it. This begins the child's abduction. This is something that may have been easily prevented.

Clearly explain what a stranger is to your child(ren). Explain to the child(ren) what would happen if you had an emergency and would not be available to get your child. Pick a phrase or word in which you and the child would remember easily but not to easy to figure out by others is imperative. Individuals in which plan on abducting your child may be able to give your child(ren) simple words in which would have the child(ren) under the impression that it is okay to go with this person. You do not want this to happen. Rehearsing an exercise using this method could make it more comfortable since the child(ren) then could apply it and can get a better idea of why it is strongly needed.

Weekly reminders of the secret word or phrase should be conducted. Please be sure to do this in a private setting. Advise adults in which need to pick up your child at that time of this secret word or phrase. I encourage you also to change this secret word or phrase after each time that you use this. Simply due to the fact, that if you do not this person may be able to pick up your child(ren) when you may not want them to. Therefore it is crucial that the secret word or phrase be changed after each time the child(ren) is picked up by a person.

Explain to your children what a stranger is. There is a very helpful website for children to read on this matter it is, http://www.fbi.gov/kids/k5th/safety4.htm. There is alot more information on that site and I strongly encourage you to have your child(ren) read it. If the child(ren) cant read please read it to them. As a child I was simply told "don't talk to strangers", without any other explanations. It seems self explanatory however it can be very confusing to a young child. Advise your child(ren) that if a stranger don't give them the secret word or phrase that they should quickly run away from that stranger. Explain to them that strangers in which would try to trick them in order to take them do not have good intentions for the child(ren). There is a very good article I encourage you to visit as the parent or at http://bestnetpages.com/keep-kids-safe. Please don't view this around a child as parts of it may not be appropriate for them. However as a parent it really makes you think about the possibilities that can occur for child abductions.

http://www.find-missing-children.org/web-content/Safety_Brochure/safetytipsforchildrenbrochure.html

www.bestneypages.com

www.fbi.gov

http://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/PageServlet?LanguageCountry=en_US&PageId=2810#1