Child Street-Proofing Tips

A little girl was lucky to have some alert students surrounding her when a man allegedly tried to lure her away from the yard at Pauline Avenue Public School on Wednesday, but how should you instruct your kids to deal with a similar situation if there are no watchful eyes around?

For years parents have been telling their children not to talk to strangers, but child safety experts believe it’s not about not talking to strangers, but how, and teaching children to know who they can go to in an emergency.

Here are some tips on street-proofing your kids:

Talking To Strangers: Don’t teach your child to fear strangers, but strangeness. If a youngster can’t talk to strangers, who will they go to in an emergency?

Trust Your Instincts: If someone doesn’t make you feel safe, it’s OK to run away and tell an adult you trust.

Vehicles: Never approach vehicles. In fact, if ever approached by a vehicle, RUN in the opposite direction that the vehicle is traveling and tell an adult.

Names: No visible names on outerwear or backpacks.

It’s OK To Yell: If someone grabs your child, they should hit, kick, and yell as loudly as possible.

Password: Use a password that is easy for your children to remember, so that if you must send a friend of family member to pick them up, they will know it’s safe because that person has the password.

Emergency Numbers: Remind children that in an emergency, they can dial 911 or 0 from a phone booth, without any money.

Safety In Numbers: Children should always travel in groups of 2 or more. Always take the same route and check in when you arrive home, if necessary.

Teach More Than Once: Start young, teach them again and again – and practice dangerous situations, modifying and adjusting to fit their growing understanding.

Adults Don’t Ask Children For Help: So if someone does, it’s a sign of danger. Run, and tell an adult you trust.

People With Bad Intentions Don’t Always Look Like Bad People: Dangerous people can look friendly. You know they aren’t good people if you feel badly when you’re with them. Again, trust your instincts.

Secrets: If someone tells you to keep a secret from your mom or your dad, don’t do it! Tell your parents right away. That’s a big sign of danger.

Ask First: Don’t go anywhere, with anyone, without your parent’s permission.

Lost In A Store: If you get lost in a store you can ask for help from a person in uniform who works for the store, or you can go to the till, or find a woman – especially a woman with a child – and ask for help). Don’t ever leave the store with anyone, even with the woman or someone else in a uniform.

Courtesy of Child Safe Canada

Talking To Strangers

It’s important to teach your kids about safe adults. They can include:

• Parents
• Teachers or Principal
• School Counselors
• Policeman in uniform
• Fireman in uniform

What If A Stranger Tried To Talk To Me?

how

What If I’m Out With My Family?

Lures

Help Trick

Emergency Trick

Bribe Trick

Animal Trick

Courtesy of Headquarters Counselling Center, Kansas

• To provide school or day-care centre the names of persons to whom your child may be released. Also inform the school or day-care centre who to notify in the event that the child does not arrive at school.

• To look carefully at your child’s clothing each day.

• To keep an up-to-date colour photograph of your child, at least one for each year (more for younger children).

• To know your child’s approximate weight and height.

• To keep a medical and dental history of your child’s blood type, medical problems, scars, broken bones, pulled teeth, braces, glasses, medication allergies, etc.

• To have your child fingerprinted and keep the prints with other pertinent information.

• To avoid putting your child’s name on the outside of clothing, toys, lunch boxes, or school bags. This is important because children are less likely to be fearful of someone who knows their name.

• To check all potential babysitters and older friends of your child.

• To never leave your child alone in a public place, stroller, or car.

• To always accompany children to the bathroom in a public place, and advise them never to loiter in or around the area.

• To always accompany your child on door-to-door activities, i.e., Halloween, school fundraising campaigns.

• To make a list of important names, telephone numbers and addresses, and place these where they are easily accessible to the child at home, preferably near the telephone.

Here are some things you can do as a family:

• An unattended child is a child at risk. Arrange with your child an alternative place where he/she can wait if you are delayed, especially in the colder winter evenings. Suggest a well-lit store or inside an arena or school.

• Know the adults who work with your children both at school and in recreational program.

• As a family, obtain a family videotape of sexual abuse prevention. An excellent one is “Feeling Yes, Feeling No” which is available from the National Film Board.

For more information on this program, or to order it, click here.

What to do if your child tells you they’ve been approached or assaulted:

• Listen to your child and let him or her tell YOU in his/her words, or with drawings or dolls if that is easier, but don’t suggest words or modify what is being said. Your ideas might confuse the truth.

• Children seldom lie about sexual abuse. Reassure the child that you believe what he/she has said, and that you are glad to have been told about it.

• Do not blame the child, show horror or anger, or encourage any belief in the child that this was his/her fault.

• Support the child and recognize the child’s feelings, whether they are anger, fear, sadness, or anxiety, and assure the child that you will protect him or her from any further abuse.

• Let your child know that you are going to take steps to make this stop, but don’t burden the child with details about what happens next. Professionals can help you guide your child through this process.

• If you suspect that your child or any other child has been abused, you must by law call the police or the child protection officials at one.

• If your child is to be interviewed by a social worker or police officer, ensure that someone familiar to the child is also present.

Courtesy of the Waterloo Region District School Board