| Not an easy subject right? Before we begin, the | | | | can't talk to you - you need to go and ask an adult'. |
| important thing to remember is that you don't want | | | | Make sure they know never to approach the car to |
| to terrify your kids about the world we live in, or | | | | engage in conversation.Equally this age group may |
| make them feel nervous on a daily basis. In particular | | | | feel obliged if someone struggling with their shopping |
| with younger ones, we all know children are prone to | | | | bags or having trouble lifting something into a car |
| nightmares when their imaginations are active about | | | | asks them for help. Adults should ask other adults for |
| any kind of predator.This is important for you as a | | | | help - not children! Advise your child that if this ever |
| parent also. We ARE very fortunate in Australia that | | | | happens to them, not to go over and help the |
| the rate of non-parental child abductions is low in | | | | person, but to say "I'll just go and find an adult to |
| comparison to other countries. In our eyes though a | | | | help you". If applicable your child should then go into a |
| 'low' rate is still too many, and our aim is that NO | | | | shop and speak to the shopkeeper only (again, not |
| children or their families will ever have to go through | | | | just a shopper), to advise them someone is wanting |
| the unthinkable. Other well reported statistics on the | | | | help outside.Common Tactics of Abductors |
| rates of child sexual abuse are far too high though, | | | | We've already mentioned what your child should do |
| so some of the tips we'll cover here are pertinent to | | | | if an adult approaches them for help, but there are |
| helping your children protect themselves in these | | | | many other well known 'tricks' used to lure children |
| situations as well.Let's start with what NOT to say. | | | | away from safety. The obvious one is an adult |
| Most of us have been brought up with the traditional | | | | offering gifts or lollies, or suggesting the child come |
| 'stranger danger' message. "Don't go with a stranger" | | | | and look at some cute little kittens or puppies. Teach |
| has been proven to be horribly ineffective in keeping | | | | your kids (all ages) that these are common tricks, |
| kids safe. So first rule of thumb is leave the word | | | | and if anyone ever tells them they have something |
| 'stranger' out of your vocabulary when discussing | | | | great to show them, they should ignore the offer |
| safety with your kids. Why's this?Research has | | | | and go immediately to a trusted adult or to a group |
| shown that most children when asked who a | | | | of other kids to tell them.Another example is where |
| stranger is, will say 'someone mean or ugly looking'. | | | | an adult may say to a child "quickly, come with me, |
| They simply won't view a nice looking lady or a kind | | | | your mummy/daddy has been hurt and they want |
| looking man as someone they should steer clear of. | | | | me to take you to them." Let your kids know that if |
| When you think about it, we too probably only avoid | | | | something has ever happened to you for real, you |
| a 'strange' looking character who tries to talk to us in | | | | would only send a family member/teacher etc. to get |
| the street. In terms of child sexual abuse, the | | | | them. Stress that, even though it might sound very |
| majority of children are molested by someone the | | | | plausible because the person seems to know family |
| family knows, sometimes by an actual family | | | | names, they should go and find a trusted adult who |
| member. So advising children that only strangers are | | | | can check it out. Go over again with your kids that, |
| capable of harming them will place your children off | | | | although they may slightly know the person who is |
| guard.For older children (around ten yrs plus) it should | | | | telling them to come with them, they shouldn't feel |
| be ok to give the real reasons as to why you are | | | | bad about saying no, and getting assistance from |
| concerned about child abductions and the tragic | | | | someone they know well.More Hypothetical Scenarios |
| outcomes of some of these. For younger children | | | | God forbid your child has found themselves |
| though, we see absolutely no need for them to | | | | vulnerable in a dangerous situation, but should |
| understand that there are people in the world who | | | | someone have managed to take your child, role play |
| take children to sexually abuse and sometimes | | | | what the person may say to them to get them to |
| murder them. It is far better, and more advisable to | | | | 'shut up'. Obviously an abductor/molester will want to |
| 'stretch the truth' a little and tell them something like | | | | hush a screaming child and may say things like "stop |
| "there are people out there who don't have children | | | | screaming or I'll hurt your mother/father etc". Let |
| of their own, so they try and steal someone else's | | | | your kids know that this will not happen! and they |
| child". This, in our opinion, is far easier for a little child | | | | are to scream, kick, scratch and punch for all their |
| to comprehend, and while scary enough in thought | | | | might. Yelling out "He/She's not my mum/dad!" or "I |
| for them to take heed of what you say, won't | | | | don't know this person!" is also advised. If your child |
| create unnecessary terror in their little heads.Some | | | | has on his/her AmberWatch, then the alarm alert will |
| 65% of non-parental child abductions are committed | | | | really help draw attention from passer's by to the |
| by someone the child or the childs' parents have | | | | situation.Even with sexual molestation cases, children |
| actually met before, no matter how briefly. (We say | | | | are often told by the perpetrator to keep quiet |
| non-parental because the rate of disgruntled | | | | about what has happened, or he will 'hurt' someone |
| non-custodial parents who kidnap their children are | | | | else in the family, or something equally as terrible. If |
| much higher than abductions from other people.) | | | | your child knows in advance that this is yet another |
| Think of some scenarios where you have had a | | | | well known 'trick' to keep them quiet, they can focus |
| friendly, albeit brief banter going with someone you | | | | on protecting themselves, without the added fear |
| don't know. A tradesperson that has come to your | | | | and guilt that they may be causing more harm to |
| home; someone you chatted with in line at the post | | | | others.Be Specific about 'No Go' areas of the Body. |
| office or in the general neighbourhood; a salesperson | | | | For the average parent, statistics that 1 in 4 girls |
| coming to your door. All your child needs is to | | | | and 1 in 7 boys will experience some kind of sexual |
| witness is you having a chat or a laugh with someone | | | | molestation in their childhood, is heartbreaking. Make |
| seemingly 'nice', and the child no longer views them | | | | sure your children know that any part of their body |
| as a stranger if they happen to come across them | | | | that a swimming costume covers is a 'No Go' area |
| again. If mum is out the front gardening and little Sally | | | | for anybody other than a trusted family member. |
| sees her chatting to someone walking past with their | | | | This also includes touching parts of an adults body. |
| cute dog, Sally is far more likely to let this person | | | | Make sure your child knows that any sexual advance |
| chat to her if she is out in the front garden without | | | | towards them is against the law. This will give them |
| mum a few days later - especially if they have that | | | | the confidence to assert themselves if they know it's |
| cute little dog with them! Remember, most | | | | a legal crime, rather than just something mum or dad |
| paedophiles are incredibly child savvy and personable | | | | don't want.Keep open communication with your |
| with children.So What Do You Say? | | | | children and encourage them to talk to you about |
| The best approach is to teach young children not to | | | | anything without guilt. Remember, paedophiles often |
| talk to ANYONE if you, a teacher, carer or other | | | | use the "our little secret" ruse.On a final note, |
| parent is not by their side. This may not sit well with | | | | molesters are very good at detecting attention |
| parent's hoping to instill politeness into their kids, but | | | | affection starved kids. Address any work/home life |
| it's by far the safest move. If an adult or responsible | | | | balances before it's too late, knowing the effort you |
| carer is not by their side, there is no need for | | | | put into your children today will sow the seeds for |
| cordiality, and most adults today will understand | | | | the next generation of emotionally healthy |
| that.If your child is old enough to walk to and from | | | | adults.Jo-Anne Rowland is the director of |
| school on their own, or travel down to the shops | | | | AmberWatch Australia, the Australian distributor of |
| without you, they need to understand how to react | | | | the AmberWatch. Recently featured on CNN's Youth |
| in certain circumstances. For example:No adult should | | | | Trend Report and currently taking the child protection |
| ask a child for help or directions. Kids can be caught | | | | world by storm, the AmberWatch is being heralded |
| off guard if someone pulls over in a car while they're | | | | as a 'first of it's kind' child prevention/protection |
| walking along or riding their bike. If the person yells | | | | product. The beautiful Teri Hatcher has just been |
| out for directions, let your child know it's ok for them | | | | announced as the international spokesperson. |
| to not respond, or they can simply say 'I'm sorry, I | | | | |