Keeping your Children Safe from Predators
In our overly full, fast-paced, and busy lives we are often too distracted by current priorities and activities necessary just for survival. In some cases we're so distracted that we miss how to effectively teach our our children important safety tips about the dangers of child predators. We don't want to scare them, but at the same time keeping a child safe is our number one priority.
Predators that could be on the streets in our own communities, in our schools, or lurking in our very own homes (brought in by world wide access to the world wide web!)
Don't doubt it for a minute. Your child's life may be at stake.
It could happen to anyone as statistics show: in Canada alone 60,000 children are reported missing every year. In America, 900,000. If not your child, perhaps a friend's child or your children's friend, could be the next one who goes missing. Since we care about them all - let's help them to stay safe by teaching them safety tips without scaring them and causing them to mistrust everyone new they meet.
Predators are all about us, silently waiting and watching. Do not give them the opportunity and never show them mercy.
Safe Children Online or In the Community
When it comes to children - our own or others - it pays to keep a watchful eye over each and every one's activities on the computer, to and from school or sporting events, and even in your own backyard.
Consider the block parent program - it's helped keep many children safe for decades. Would your community benefit from this program?
Wouldn't it be nice if we didn't need it at all? The truth is that there are thousands of sexual predators, child abductors and Internet predators just waiting to victimize the youth in our communities!
I have researched the web for child safety tips and felt sadness and anger that we have to work so hard just to protect our offspring. My hope is that you will use this information to keep your children safe from those who wait...
Help Americas Most Wanted find this sex offender today!
This 'man' is a repeated offender - and now he's on the loose again.Convicted sex offender Riyad Hamdan is no stranger to the criminal justice system: he's done time in prison for sexually abusing children, and according to police, he has a proven track record for violating his parole. Time and time again.
Why does our justice system continue to allow these animals out onto the street, allowing them priviledges such as bail, and watching them repeatedly offend the taxpayers who are paying his way?
Why are we sacrificing our children to the likes of this?
U.S. Marshals fear Hamdan could be molesting kids again, and they need your tips to find him before another tragedy occurs. It's been reported that these types of behaviors escalate - could this man be responsible for a missing child?
Speaking of America's Most Wanted...
Did you know that John Walsh (host of the show) lost his son (at the age of 6) to a child abductor? The police didn't find Adam until it was too late. That's when John changed his career and started tracking criminals like this.
Don't let Adam's tragedy happen to your child.
There is only one product available to every parent that John Walsh endorses. It's called DNA LifePrint and it costs less than $20! John says if it had been on the market back then, Adam's case would have been solved - perhaps before it was too late. I read about DNA LifePrint here.
Help Find Jonathan Ewart
HAVE YOU SEEN HIM?
Jonathan Ewart is just one of thousands of missing children that need to be found, if everyone could take a few moments to visit sites like Child Find Canada, then purposefully look at the children they see in malls, in playgrounds, at their own children's schools, maybe we could make a difference for one of them.Name: Jonathan Paul Garnet Roy Ewart
Date of birth: May 18, 1996
Missing since: Sep 25, 2006
Missing from: Bingen, Germany
Case number: 8165-P
Eyes: Brown-Green
Hair: Brown
Height: 4'6" 138 cm
Child Find National Toll Free Number 1-800-387-7962
You have to look at these faces, do what you would want someone to do for you if it was your child.
You never know, maybe he's that boy at the mall you saw the other day, whose face gnawed at your conscience...I found Jonathan Ewart's face on the Child Find Canada Site and now my sub-conscious is on the lookout for him.
Educate Your Children
What is a stranger? Who is it that can harm me?
Keeping Your Child Safe at Home and Educating Children About StrangersThe Exploiter or Abductor: Not Always A Stranger
"Stay away from strangers!" is a popular warning to children to prevent abduction or exploitation.
Unfortunately, however, many children are abducted or exploited by people who have some type of familiarity with the children but who may or may not be known to the parents.
The term stranger suggests a concept that children do not understand and is one that ignores what we do know about the people who commit crimes against children. It misleads children into believing that they should be wary only of individuals who have an unusual or slovenly appearance.
Instead, it is more appropriate to teach our children to be on the lookout for certain kinds of situations or actions rather than certain kinds of individuals.
Children can be raised to be polite and friendly, but it is okay for them to be suspicious of any adult asking for assistance. Children help other children, but there is no need for them to be assisting adults.
Children should not be asked to keep special secrets from their parents and, of course, children should not be asked to touch anyone in the bathing suit areas of their body or allow anyone to touch them in those areas.
Often exploiters or abductors initiate a seemingly innocent contact with the victim. They may try to get to know the children and befriend them. They use subtle approaches that both parents and children should be aware of.
Children should learn to stay away from individuals in cars or vans; and they should know that it is okay to say no - even to an adult.
Remember, a clear, calm and reasonable message about situations and actions to look out for is easier for a child to understand than a particular profile or image of a stranger.
Here are some suggestions for your family.
Keep them safe from people like Riyad Hamdan
Child abduction is a growing concern in Canada and the United States. There are simple precautions you can take to help safeguard your children.Child Find Canada Online provides tips for parents of children of all ages, as well as advice for the children themselves. America's Most Wanted Online provides similar information as well.
Young children should:
- Never say they are alone if they answer the phone: they can offer to take a message or say their parents will phone back.
- Never answer the door if they are alone.
- Not invite anyone into the house without the permission of a parent or babysitter.
- Not go into people's houses without letting anyone know where they are.
- Never get into anyone's car without permission and consent from their parent.
- Not take candy or other gifts from strangers or anyone else without asking a parent first.
- Never play in deserted buildings or isolated areas.
- Scream and scatter books and belongings if they are forced toward a building or car.
- Move away from any car that pulls up beside them if they do not know the driver.
- Be taught their full telephone number and address.
- Be taught that it's all right to say 'no' to an adult if the person wants them to do something you've taught them is wrong.
- Know that no one has the right to touch any part of their bodies that a bathing suit would cover.
- Tell you, school authorities or a police officer about anyone who exposes private parts.
- Tell you if someone has asked them to keep a secret from you.
- Go to the nearest cashier if lost or separated from you in a store or mall.
Teens should:
- Tell you where they are at all times or leave a written or recorded message at home.
- Never hitchhike.
- Avoid shortcuts through empty parks, fields, laneways or alleys.
- Run home or go to the nearest public place and yell for help if they are being followed.
- Learn to recognize suspicious behavior and remember a description of the person or vehicle to give you or the police. Write the plate number in the dirt or snow if nothing else is available.
- If attacked for money, jewelry or clothing give it up rather than risk injury.
- Feel that they can talk to you and call you to pick them up any time, any place.
Internet Invaders
There are many ways that your child could unknowingly put themselves in danger.
For many families, having a parent or older sibling around when a child gets home from school just isn't possible.Before allowing a child to stay home alone, however, talk with her to make sure she feels comfortable being there without a trusted adult. Age is not always the deciding factor in whether a child is ready for this step, so consider her maturity level when making your decision...
You should also set in place some ground rules for your child when they are using the Internet. such as:
Never talk to strangers on the internet. Even if you do not disclose personal information at first, an internet predator could build an online friendship and eventually get you to tell them private things about yourself.
Advise your child that if they receive an email from a name you do not specifically recognize, don't open it no matter what the subject is. Delete it or ask one of your parents to check it out for you. Junk mail is designed to look like emails from friends, but it could include inappropriate material or viruses that harm your computer.
To the children out there:
If you want to write a blog, find a site that has privacy controls on it so that you can allow only confirmed friends to see it.
Never reveal any information about yourself that would enable a predator to find you; this includes not only your name and address, but also the school you go to, where you hang out, sports teams in your area, and the town you live in.
Have one of your parents read each of your blogs before you post it. Remember, if there is something written that you would not want your parents to read, you should definitely not put it on the internet.
Links for your family
- Kids in the know Canada
- Kids in the Know is a safety curriculum designed to empower children and reduce their risk of victimization. It focuses on building self-esteem through teaching critical problem-solving skills.
- Childfind Canada
- Helpful, informative site with profiles of missing children from around the world...please look.
- Americas Most Wanted
- Link providing profiles and safety sugestions for safe families!!
- LifePrint DNA Home Kit
- Complete description of the LifePrint DNA kit used by parents in the United States and Canada to store samples of their children's DNA in case of emergency. (Not available in stores. Only available online.)
America's Most Wanted Safety Tips
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byChild Protection Equipment on eBay
These products make great gifts to keep a child safe or teach safety to other parents in your community.
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Empowering Children and Keeping Them Safe
Further reading or studying...
Protecting the Gift: Keeping Children and Teenagers Safe (and Parents Sane)
Amazon Price: $9.36 (as of 12/23/2009) 
Used Price: $1.16
Usually ships in 24 hours
The Safe Child Book: A Commonsense Approach to Protecting Children and Teaching Children to Protect Themselves
Amazon Price: $12.55 (as of 12/23/2009)
Used Price: $0.45
Usually ships in 24 hours
Cyber-Safe Kids, Cyber-Savvy Teens: Helping Young People Learn To Use the Internet Safely and Responsibly
Amazon Price: $10.17 (as of 12/23/2009)
Used Price: $1.95
Usually ships in 24 hours
I Can Be Safe: A First Look at Safety (First Look at...Series)
Amazon Price: $6.95 (as of 12/23/2009)
Used Price: $3.12
Usually ships in 24 hours
Reader Feedback
Leave a comment about how to keep kids safe!! and take time to vote for this lens today!! Thank you Sadiepal
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- May 2, 2008 @ 9:23 pm
- Great topic for safety. I know sites that also relates for safety's. I find these Public Records and Background Check Resources 2 sites useful also that interest me. More power.
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- Steve_Sanchez Steve_Sanchez Oct 27, 2007 @ 11:05 am
- Thanks for taking the time to build a lens on child safety! It's a topic near and dear to me heart! For your viewers I found a Free Internet Safety Comic Book simply click on the link! Enjoy!
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- PalaestraTraining PalaestraTraining Sep 28, 2007 @ 1:07 am
- Great lens, keep up the good work! If you'd like to offer your readers Internet Safety training from a former law enforcement officer and computer expert - visit www.palaestratraining.com Training that covers everything from predator mindset to identity theft, computer basics, security and more.
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- Margaret_Schaut Margaret_Schaut Aug 21, 2007 @ 2:47 pm
- Sadie, this page was one of the winners in the lensmaster contest! Congratulations! Please contact me for your winning badge, and add your lens to the winners group.
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- Trigger Trigger Aug 14, 2007 @ 9:41 am
- SadiePal, thanks for your mention of the LifePrint DNA page, America's Most Wanted and John Walsh. Let's keep all kids safe!
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by sadiepal
My number one priority are my children. I would do anything to keep them safe, that includes from those who would harm them...I hope that you will use...
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