The chances of your child being abducted by a total stranger are fairly small, in fact a large percentage of child abductions occur with someone the child knows!
However, it is my goal to keep as many children as safe as possible from being harmed. Please review the points below with your child.
If you don't have a child, this is a good reminder for all adults.
We practice stranger danger, just to be safe!
Stranger Danger Education
WHO IS A STRANGER?
Someone you don’t know!
Strangers come in all shapes, sizes and ages!
Could be a man, woman, or a teenager
FOLLOW THE BIG RULE!
Never go ANYWHERE, with ANYONE, without Mom and Dad’s permission.
COULD THIS BE A TRICK?
Don’t be tempted by a stranger’s tricks:
•“Would you like a toy?”
•“Can you please help me with directions!”
•“Would you like some of your favorite candy?”
•“Can you help me find my lost puppy?”
STEP ONE - THINK DANGER!
Take two steps back and scream "I dont Know You!" AND RUN!
NEVER GET IN A CAR with anyone unless your parents or guardian say it is okay on THAT DAY.
Don’t be fooled! They may have seen your name on your book bag, t-shirt or heard someone call you by name.
RULES FOR DEALING WITH STRANGERS
- If you see a stranger approach you, run in the opposite direction yelling stranger!
- Go to your parents immediately or find an adult you trust!
- If a stranger grabs you, kick, bite, stomp the foot, pinch, and punch – making as much noise as possible!
- Drop to the ground in the opposite direction, and as soon as you break free, run in the opposite direction!
- If the stranger tries to lift you up off the ground, sit on their foot and wrap your arms and legs around their leg like you were hugging a “telephone pole” and yell stranger, stranger, stranger as loud as you can.
- If you break free, run to your home or safe location as quick as possible.
- If the stranger tries to lift you up off the ground, sit on their foot and wrap your arms and legs around their leg like you were hugging a “telephone pole” and yell stranger, stranger, stranger as loud as you can.
- If you break free, run to your home or safe location as quick as possible.
Quick Review
- Remember, a stranger is someone we don’t know.
- Not all strangers are bad, but we practice being safe all the time.
- Never get in the car of a stranger without your parents knowledge.
- Never take candy or toys from a stranger.
- Never help a stranger look for a pet or give them directions.
- Do not go out alone.
- Always take a friend with you when going places or playing outside.
- Say no, take two steps back and RUN AWAY as quick as you can, yelling stranger, stranger, stranger!
Resources
POLLY KLAAS SEARCH CENTER
24/7 Help-Line: Talk to a live person: 800-587-4357 or
Help by Email, click here.
If Your Child Runs Away or Goes Missing
Immediately contact your local police agency. They will decide whether to issue an Amber Alert.
File a missing persons report--as soon as you discover your child is missing.
There is no mandatory waiting period.
Then contact the Polly Klaas® Foundation.
Additional child search information:
Guidelines for Recovering Runaway Children
Guidelines for Recovering Missing Children, including Family Abductions or Parental Abductions
Parental Consent Form. Please sign and fax to the Polly Klaas® Foundation at 707-769-4019.
Make Your Own Flyer
Our caseworkers often make and distribute professional flyers for families. However, some families prefer to make their own.
One child template, click here.
Two child template, click here.
Kid Power
Free Library and Blog
Articles on: Protecting Children from Abduction/Kidnapping, Safety with Strangers and People Children Know, Resisting the "Illusion of Safety", What Adults Need to Know About Personal Safety for Children, What if a Sex Offender is Living in Our Neighborhood?, What Children Need to Know if They Cannot Get Away at First, How to Pick a Good Self-Defense Program,Tools for Empowering Children to Explore Their World with Safety and Confidence,
Blog articles include Kidnapping - What We Can Do to Keep Our Kids Safe, How to Keep Your Kids Safe Without Hovering, What Might Have Helped Protect Jaycee Dugard?
Free Videos and Podcasts
Why Kidpower? Everybody Deserves to Feel Safe!
TV Interview on San Francisco Talk Show View from the Bay about Bullying Prevention
Podcasts on What Rhymes with Stranger?, Safety Tools for Safety Problems, Looking Around and Not at the Ground, What is People Safety, and Your Internal Safety Alarm
Other Resources
Kidscape offer free printable PDF packs and fact sheets with such titles as "Street Sense: Protect Yourself" for teenagers, and "Keeping Young Children Safe".
Scholastic provide a concise guide to talking About Stranger Danger. They encourage parents to have a calm, frank, age-appropriate discussion with their child about personal safety and avoiding potential dangers. Advice covers Preschoolers (ages 3 to 5), through to tweens and teens.
New York Police offer a printable pamphlet entitled 'Step Away for Safety' which is a great prompt for teachers and parents. It defines a stranger and also the methods they may use to lure a child."You don't need to be scared, you just need to be cautious and prepared."
A to Z Teacher Stuff have lesson plans to teach students about the dangers of going with strangers.
Life 123 have several articles covering personal safety activities for kids and role play games for staying safe.
Akron Children's Hospital offer a useful instructional video for adults.
Medical News Today suggest that we should teach "...... skills and confidence, not fear and avoidance."
Kid Safe Canada Blog describes the 'Top 16 Lures Used by Predators' to trick a child including pets, bribes or just simply faking an emergency.
US Dept of Education have a colourful printable PDF document entitled 'Personal Safety for Children - A Guide for Parents'.
Safe Child explain 'Who Are Stranger Offenders?', a 'Child's Point of View' and have links to instructional safety video clips.
Prevention is Key
Of course, the safest way to keep you child safe, is to never let them out of your sight! This is not always easy to do, as child have a tendency to walk away due to distraction or curiosity. However, just like self defense on the street, awareness is one of the most critical elements to staying safe.
Well, the same can be said for stranger danger.
One last note, I have found teaching preschool children at my karate school, that repetition is the key. You must review this with your child over and over again in order to be sure they understand your rules about strangers.
Be safe!
At Samurai Karate Studio, we include stranger danger as part of our Little Samurai curriculum and we practice stranger danger strategies several times a month.
If you are interested in learning more about our program, please call 803-462-9425.