What Parents Can Do To Prevent Child Abduction and Exploitation

Most of the more than 350,000 children abducted in America each year are taken by relatives. Random abductions by strangers are rare but terrifying; experts offer the following tips to parents for trying to avoid them: 

• Teach your children in whose car they may ride. Children should be cautioned never to approach any vehicle, occupied or not, unless accompanied by a parent or trusted adult. If a stranger asks for directions or assistance, the child should tell them to ask an adult.  

• Create an atmosphere in your own home where your children feel safe confiding information about uncomfortable experiences. Ensure a sense of confidence in your children that you will believe them and be responsive to them if they need your help.  

• Tell your child not to go out alone — always take a friend, sister, or brother. Teach them always to tell an adult where they are going, and never to take a ride with someone they don't know.  

• Discuss with your children whose homes in the neighborhood they can visit, and the boundaries of where they can and can't go in the neighborhood.  

• Make sure your children know their address and telephone numbers, and how to use the telephone. Be sure they know what to do in an emergency, and, if appropriate, how to reach you using cell phones or pagers. Make certain they do not tell anyone who calls that they are home alone.  

• Don't drop children off alone at malls, movies, video arcades or parks.  

• Know where your children are at all times. Be familiar with their friends and daily activities. 

• Be sensitive to changes in your children's behavior; they are a signal that you should sit down and talk to your children about what caused the changes.  

• Be alert to a teenager or adult who is paying an unusual amount of attention to your children or giving them inappropriate or expensive gifts.  

• Teach your children to trust their own feelings, and assure them that they have the right to say NO to what they feel is wrong.  

• Listen carefully to your children's fears, and be supportive in all your discussions with them.  

• Teach your children that no one should approach them or touch them in a way that makes them feel uncomfortable. If someone does, they should tell you immediately.  

• Be careful about babysitters and any other individuals who have custody of your children.  

As soon as your children can talk, they can begin the process of learning how to protect themselves against abduction and exploitation. Children should be taught:

• Never tell someone that you are home alone.  If a caller asks for mom or dad, tell them that they can't come to the phone right now and take a message. 

• If you are in a public place, and you get separated from your parents, don't wander around looking for them. Find a clerk, security officer, or other store employee and tell them that you have lost your mom and dad and need help in finding them.  

• Do not get into a car or go anywhere with any person unless your parents have told you that it is okay.  

• If someone follows you on foot or in a car, stay away from them. You don't need to go near the car to talk to the people inside.  

• Grown-ups and other older people who need help should not be asking children for help, they should be asking other grown-ups.  If a stranger asks you for directions or assistance with a "lost puppy", tell them to ask an adult. 

• If someone tries to take you somewhere, quickly get away from them and yell or scream. "This man is trying to take me away" or "You're not my father (or mother)."  If you are riding on your bike and someone tries to grab you, hug the bike so that they have to pick up both you and the bike. 

• You should always try to use a "buddy system" and never go places alone. 

• Always ask your parents' permission to leave the yard or play area or to go into someone's home. 

• Never hitchhike or try to get a ride home with anyone unless your parents have told you it is okay to ride with him or her. 

• No one should ask you to keep a special secret. If someone does, tell your parents or teacher. 

• If someone wants to take your picture, tell them NO and tell your parents or teacher. 

• You have the right to say NO to anyone who tries to take you somewhere, touches you, or makes you feel uncomfortable in any way.