Current Dangers Make It Necessary To Teach Child Abduction Awareness

By Essie Osborn


The modern world presents many new responsibilities to parents. There may be toxic waste in the water supply. Food may contain carcinogens. Prior to starting school, the child is relatively safe at home with the parent. But, when school age, the safety is not always under parental control. Due to predators, child abduction awareness must be taught to children of all ages.

There are law enforcement agencies, private and public organizations and lessons taught in school to try to keep children safe from sexual predators. There are parents who lost children to these predators who campaign for safety to prevent it from happening to others.

Task forces try to publicize the dangers and also help if a child is taken. They announce the details about stranger danger to make parents and children aware. Now it seems that a predator might be a relative or close friend in addition to the stranger.

There was a time, not too long ago, when religious leaders, teachers and basketball coaches were assumed to be beyond reproach. Kids could respect those in positions of authority. It is simple to warn about strangers and the danger they may pose. But, it is quite another thing to have to suspect a pastor or priest. How can that be explained.

There are some methods of protection that are not the whole answer to the problem, but, provide some degree of safety. Children can be taught not to go close to a stranger in a car. They can be warned what to do if a stranger asks them to help look for a lost puppy.

Not accepting a ride home with anyone can be a firm rule. But, when an old friend of the family offers one, will they get in the car or not. A teacher will not allow a child to leave school until a parent or some other designated adult calls for him or her.

A test was carried out by one protective group. They approached children in a parking lot and asked for help to find a lost pet. The children seemed to ignore all the precautions their parents had depended on. They went along into the park with the friendly-looking adult who was sad about his lost pet.

Children cannot understand the reality of death. When told if they are kidnapped they will never see their parents again, they may nod their heads, but really do not understand. On television people die all the time and then come back to life in another episode.

Older children, teens for example, can be taught to trust their own instincts. When they are in a situation that makes them uncomfortable, they should get away any way they can. But, predators might prevent them from escaping.

Parents are advised to be prepared to help locate their child if he or she goes missing. They should have a recent snapshot, a lock of hair including roots and a set of fingerprints available. They should take note of the clothes he or she wears to school. It is a tragedy that whole families must suffer the fear of an abduction due to these dangerous predators who walk free in society.




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