Stranger safety

Although stranger abduction is rare, you must teach your child how to be safe.

• Talk to your child about stranger safety. Remember, child abductors don't always look or act differently. A stranger is someone your child may see at the playground, but does not know.
• Always go with your child to the bathroom when in a public place. Do not let your child wander in a store alone.
• Do not leave your child alone to play outside.
• Walk your child to and from the bus stop.
• Practice scenarios where strangers may try to entice or grab your child:
  • "My puppy is lost. Can you help me find it?"
  • "Your parents are hurt and asked me to take you to the hospital."
  • "I'm lost. Can you tell me how to get to the store? I have a toy or candy for you."
  • Talk to your child in a calm, loving way so they don't become scared. Reinforce these scenarios every now and then. Just telling them once isn't enough.
• Teach your child how to scream, run or kick if a stranger tries to take them.
• Identify a "safe house" in your neighborhood or apartment/townhouse complex your child can go to if they are threatened or locked out of your house. Create a "safe plan" with the neighbors to return or pick up your child.
• Teach your child about "good" touch and "bad" touch. Use proper names for body parts.
• Teach your child to tell you if they feel uncomfortable around any adult or older child. Create a loving environment so your child will feel safe talking about their feelings.
• Boost your child's self-esteem. Children who are confident aren't as vulnerable as children who have low self-esteem and a lack of parental supervision.

According to the FBI, other tips for making sure your child is safe include:

• Share a secret code word with your child. Make it a word that is easy to remember. Share this code word with family and friends.
• Tell your child to ask for the code word if a stranger asks for them to go somewhere (to find a missing pet, to go to the hospital).
• If the stranger doesn't know the code word, tell your child to scream and run away as fast as possible.
• Tell your child that adults should not ask kids to do things other adults can do for them. Adults should not ask your child for directions, to get in a car, to help them do something.
• If asked for help, your child should say, "Wait here and I'll check with my mom" and run for help.
• If your child gets separated from you in a public place, find an employee to help find your child. Tell your child to do the same. Tell your child not to hide if they are scared.
• Tell your child to talk to you before:
• going anywhere with anyone
• leaving the yard, play area or going into someone's home
• getting a ride with someone other than the bus driver
• getting into a car or going somewhere with someone even if it's a person you know
• Teach your child to stay away if someone follows them on foot or in a car. Remind your child not to go near a car to talk to the people inside.
• Teach your child that it's OK to say "no."
• Have your child fingerprinted and keep the fingerprints in a safe place.
• Teach your child their full name, address and phone number. Teach them when to share this information.
• Teach your child how to use the telephone and how to dial 911.

For more information on child safety, visit the following websites:

• missingkids.com (National Center for Missing and Exploited Children)
• fbi.gov (FBI)
• whitehouse.gov (U.S. White House)
• usdoj.gov  (U.S. Department of Justice)
• hhs.gov (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)