How to Teach Children to Guard Against Kidnapping

Teach your child that adults do not ask children for help, they ask other adults. Tell him that if an adult approaches him for help it's most likely a trick. Many abductors attempt to befriend a child by pretending to need assistance. The abductor might ask your child to help find a lost pet, ask for help carrying packages, or tell him that his parents have been hurt and need his help. Stress to your child that if an adult approaches him for help, he should not speak to him and quickly move in the opposite direction. Instruct him to search for and notify an adult he can trust, such as a police officer in uniform, a store clerk or security guard, or a mother with children.

Avoid leaving your child alone outside your home, even for a few moments. Abductors wait for an opportunity when a child is unsupervised and can snatch her off the street in a matter of seconds. Work with other families in your community to establish a "buddy system" for young children to walk to and from school, the bus stop or other locations together. Using a buddy system can give you peace of mind when your child is outside, knowing that there's safety in numbers. Avoid dropping your child off alone at shopping malls, movies, parks or restaurants -- wait with her at the location until her friends show up.

Instruct your child to never approach any vehicle unless he has received parental consent. Even if your child recognizes the driver as a relative or friend of the family, stress that he shouldn't approach the car without your permission. Abductors often lure children to walk close to their car by pretending to be lost and needing directions, or attempting to entice them with candy, games, gifts or an invitation to see a puppy. Once the child approaches the car, the abductor is able to grab him and force him inside. Instruct your child to run away from the car in the opposite direction the car is facing, and go to a trusted neighbor's house, store or other public place, and search for a uniformed police officer.

Tell your child that it's OK to say "no" to an adult. Children are often taught to always obey adults, which makes them more vulnerable to being kidnapped. Most child abductions are committed by adults with a previous relationship to the child, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Teach your child to always say "no" to a stranger, relative or friend who tries to take him somewhere against his will, touches him inappropriately or makes him feel threatened. instruct him to quickly move away and loudly scream for help. Stress that he should loudly scream exactly what's happening, such as "Help, this is not my Dad!" or "Help, call the police!" or "Help, I'm being kidnapped!"

Walk around your neighborhood with your child, pointing out safe places to go if he needs immediate assistance, such as stores, government buildings, police and fire departments, trusted neighbor's homes and other locations where there will be trusted adults present. Create a map with markers of the safe havens so he knows where to run if he's being followed or feels he's in danger. Warn him to avoid taking shortcuts or other routes through isolated areas that aren't on the map.