Preventing Abductions

Whenever the evening news brings the story of a kidnapped child or teen, the terrifying prospect of abduction fills the minds of parents across the country. But it's important to remember that the majority of children will pass through childhood safely. One of the challenges of being a parent is to teach your children to be cautious without filling them with too much fear or anxiety. Although some dangers do exist, there are steps that you can take to lessen the chances that your child will be abducted.

Approximately 2,100 missing-children reports are filed each day. All of these cases might be solved more easily if parents were able to provide a few key pieces of information about their children, like: height, weight, eye color, and a clear recent photo.

The Reality of Child Abductions

The circumstances surrounding child abduction are often quite different from the way they are portrayed in TV shows and movies. Here are some of the realities of child abduction:

• The majority of children who are reported missing have run away, or there has been a misunderstanding with their parents about where they were supposed to be.
• Of the kids and teens that are truly abducted, the majority of them are taken by a family member or an acquaintance; 25% of kids are taken by strangers.
• Almost all children kidnapped by strangers are taken by men, and about two thirds of stranger abductions involve female children.
• Most abducted children are in their teens.
• Children are rarely abducted from school grounds.

Strategies for Preventing Abductions

Parents often do not provide their children with safety information that could help prevent an abduction. These strategies may help:

• Make sure custody documents are in order.
• Have ID-like photos taken of your children every 6 months, and have your children fingerprinted. Many local police departments sponsor fingerprinting programs - check if they're available in your town.
• Keep your children's medical and dental records up to date.
• Make online safety a priority. The Internet is a great tool, but it's also a perfect place for predators to stalk children. Be aware of your children's Internet activities and chat room "friends," and remind them never to give out personal information. Avoid posting identifying information or photos of your children online.
• Set boundaries about the places your children go. Supervise them in places like malls, movie theaters, parks, public bathrooms, or while fundraising door to door.
• Never leave children alone in a car or stroller, even for a minute.
• Choose caregivers - babysitters, day-care providers, and nannies - carefully and check their references. If you've arranged for someone to pick up your children from school or child care, discuss the arrangements beforehand with your children and with the school or child-care center.
• Avoid dressing your children in clothing with their names on it - children tend to trust adults who know their names.

Talking to Your Child About Strangers
Talk to your children often about safety. Give your children the basics on how to avoid and escape potentially dangerous situations. Teach them to: