Article
ON GUARD! What
Parents Should Know About Child Abduction
by Laura Quarantiello
The risk of your child being taken by a molester or abductor is real,
as thousands of parents learn to their horror every year. Rule
one is never leave your child alone in public, not even for a minute.
A minute is all it takes. Parking lots and public rest rooms are prime
hunting ground for abductors, so be careful about where you park and
don't let your child wander off. Check out any baby sitter or day care
facility thoroughly before you entrust your child to them. Keep an open
and honest relationship with your children; encourage them to talk about
their concerns and pay attention to what they say. If something or someone
is upsetting or scaring them, there's usually a reason. Never belittle
your child's fears, whatever they are.
It's a fact that the more attention a child gets at home, the less susceptible
he or she will be to the lures of a molester or abductor. Try to be
involved with your child's activities - know who their friends are and
what adults they spend time with. Be especially careful of friend's
parents or other adults in a friend's home if your child spends time
there. One of the prime warning signs of trouble to watch for is an
apparent change in the way your child reacts to a particular adult.
It is vital that you find out what's going on in a situation such as
that.
Don't dress your child in clothes that display his or her name. A stranger
can easily spot the child's name and use it to appear to be a friend.
Police recommend that you always keep a recent photo of your child on
hand - it's an important aid in bringing a child home quickly. Be sure
your children understand that if any stranger tries to get them alone
or into a car you want to be told about it. If something seems suspicious
to you don't hesitate to report it to the police, along with as much
information about the situation as possible. In so doing you might help
save another child from a terrible fate.
Copyright © 2003 Laura Quarantiello. All Rights Reserved.
Laura Quarantiello is the author of "On Guard - How You
Can Win the War Against the Bad Guys" - an information shield that
will help keep you and your family safe in a world of creeps and crazies.
Please visit:
http://www.tiare.com/onguard.htm
