How to teach a child to escape or prevent an abduction

According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, more than 250,000 children are abducted every year.Of these, roughly 20 percent are victims on non-family abduction, the rest are taken by family members (usually in custody disputes). Whether a child is abducted by a stranger or a relative, though, it is still a terrifying ordeal, both for the child and for the parent who is left behind. In order to prevent this horrible tragedy from affecting your family, there are certain techniques you can teach your child to help her avoid being abducted in the first place or, if taken, to escape from her captors.

Things You'll Need

• Awareness
• Courage
• Resourcefulness
• Determination

Instructions

1. Teach your child the most important rule of stranger safety--never go anywhere alone. Children are seldom abducted in pairs. Teach him to be cautious even around people he knows, and never to accept rides or go anywhere with anyone unless he informs you. Give him a short list (three people is ideal) of adults he can trust in event of some accident or emergency where he cannot contact you, and tell him he is not to go anywhere with anyone who isn't on that list unless express permission has been granted by you or by one of these trusted adults.

2. Tell your child that if she is approached by anyone acting the least bit suspicious or wanting her to go somewhere or help with something, she should run away. If the person pursues, she needs to scream out loud and shout "this person is not my mom! this person is not my dad! I don't want to go with this person!" or something similar. Reinforce the fact that adults should not be asking for children with help finding their lost pets, keys, etc., especially if there are other adults around whom they might ask.

3. Demonstrate the "windmill technique" for your child--this involves spinning your arms around in great big circles as fast as possible. This can be used to fend off anyone trying to grab you.

4. Show your child how to throw something out the car window if a kidnapper is taking him away in a car. Tell him to try to to find something large and noticeable, and to throw it so that it will attract attention. If it hits another car and they call the police, great! He can also try to step on the gas at a stop light to bump the car in front. Any type of fender bender where someone will call the police is likely to stop the kidnapping.

5. Remind your child to try to take any opportunity she can to escape, even opening a car door when the car is slowed down or stopped. Many children stay with their abductors out of fear, but whatever happens in an escape attempt is likely to be better than what will happen if she stays with the abductor. Even in a custody abduction, where she may not be hurt, she will still suffer the loss of her friends ... and of you. Tell her she has the right to escape, and the power to do so.