HER LIFE Magazine

herlife | mother’s perspectiveTeach Your ChildConcepts to KeepThem Safeby elizabeth rosenbergerApart of parenting is protecting your child and keeping themsafe. You are their voice in this world and they look to youfor stability, confidence and safety. But we can’t always bewith our children, and to arm them with knowledge is the best gifta parent can give to add to their protection. Teaching them how toprotect themselves when you’re not around will develop a healthyhabit, not hysteria.In order to approach this with new insight, the National Centerfor Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) suggests you throwout the concept of ‘Stranger Danger.’ On their website they explain,“For decades, children were taught to stay away from ‘strangers.’ Butthis concept is difficult for children to grasp, and often the perpetratoris someone the child knows. It is more beneficial to help buildchildren’s confidence and teach them to respond to a potentiallydangerous situation, rather than teaching them to look out for aparticular type of person.”Although there is a lot of talk about tracking devices and supportingtechnology, the NCMEC does not recommend you use them.They stress that the best defense for your child and family is to teachyour child how to stay safe. If a device is to be used, understand whatit can and cannot do, that machines can fail, and that the trackingdevice should be, if they choose, an element within a complete safetyprogram for their family.The NCMEC cites that, based on extensive research across thenation, people known to children and/or their families actually presentgreater danger to children than do strangers. On their website, theyoffer a vast array of tips and topics to aid parents in this journey. Beloware a few that HERLIFE would like to pass along.KNOWLEDGE IS POWERExplain to your children that you want to discuss safety rules withthem so they will know what to do if they are ever confronted with apotentially dangerous situation. The first line of defense for families issafety education and line-of-sight supervision of their children. Choose‘teachable’ moments to reinforce safety skills, like utilizing an incidentin your community if your child asks about it. Speak frankly but withoutfear and on terms they can understand for their age.THERE’S AN APP FOR THATThe FBI Child ID App is free and will help keep your informationupdated on your children. Created by the FBI, this app providesa convenient place to electronically store photos and vital informationabout your children so that it’s literally right at hand if you need it.You can show pictures and provide physical identifiers such as heightand weight to security or police officers on the spot. Using a specialtab on the app, you can also quickly and easily e-mail the informationto authorities with a few clicks. The app also includes tips on keepingchildren safe as well as specific guidance on what to do in those firstfew crucial hours after a child goes missing.LOSE THE NAME TAGSDon’t put your child’s name on shirts, jackets, backpacks orbelongings where a predator will easily find it.INTERNET AND PHONE SAFETYTeach your child that they should never give identifying informationover the Internet or phone, or inform someone who calls thatthey’re home alone. Internet abuse has risen over the past decade34 HERLIFEnewyork.com