Having a child abducted is a parent's worst nightmare. Although the large majority of people are kind and helpful, a small percentage may be dangerous to children. Parents must be diligent in teaching their children certain safety steps to protect themselves. Also, if a child is abducted, the parents should have certain personal information on hand to help in the search.

Stranger Danger

Most parents teach their children to not talk to strangers. However, the idea of a stranger can be different to a child. Many children may believe that a stranger must look strange and not normal. Also, there's a chance that the child won't trust any stranger, even if they need help. If the child is lost in a store, he should be taught that it's okay to talk to a store employee for help.

Examples of safety information that should be taught to children about strangers include:

• Children should keep a safe distance away from strangers and their cars
• Strangers look like normal people and don't have to look dangerous
• Children should say "no" to a stranger asking for help since an adult can help him
• Certain strangers are okay to talk to when help is needed, such as a store employee or a police officer

Parents can practice with their children in public about who would be a safe stranger in an emergency. The more a parent reinforces safety information about strangers, the greater the chance the child will be safe from stranger danger.

Steps for Children to Help Prevent Child Abduction

Children can be taught a variety of information that'll help prevent child abduction. Some examples include:

• Always walk in groups and not by themselves
• Know passwords that a stranger must say before he can pick them up in case of an emergency
• Memorize important information like phone numbers and addresses to reach parents or guardians
• Yell and run to a safe place if a stranger makes them uncomfortable and invades their personal space
• Know houses that are safe in an emergency, such as a neighbor, or safe house programs sponsored by many local police departments

Steps for Parents to Help Prevent Child Abduction

There're many steps that parents can take to lessen the chances of child abduction. Some examples include:

• Teach children about the common ways a stranger may attempt to abduct them, such as presents, candy or finding a lost pet
• Teach them a secret password for emergencies
• Pick them up from the bus stop instead of letting them walk home
• Have them play in the backyard instead of the front yard to prevent cars from driving close
• Limit the use of their names on the outside of their clothes or book bags
• Install a home security system
• Report any suspicious people to police

Parents can also search the Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Public Website or the Family Watchdog web site. These web sites will allow parents to check if any sexual predators are living close to their homes.

Information that Will Help in the Recovery of Children

If a child is abducted, the first few hours are the most critical in finding the child. Parents should have up-to-date personal information and photographs of their children. Fingerprints should be on hand to give to law enforcement.

To help gather important personal information, parents can fill out the National Alert Registry Child ID Kit. This kit has room for a recent photo, identification materials and medical information. The kit also teaches parents how to take a child's fingerprints.

Parents can also register their children in the Amber Alert Registry. This registry allows important personal information about children to be accessed immediately by law enforcement. Any time saved will help in the recovery process of the child.

Related Resources on Lawyers.com^sm

- Read more Family Law articles, including Missing Children, Child Abduction & Child Custody
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Related Web Links

- National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
- U.S. Department of Justice: Sex Offender Public Registry Sites
- Federal Bureau of Investigation: Crimes Against Children Unit
- Association of Missing and Exploited Children's Organizations