What Kids Should Do In A Kidnapping Situation

Posted by: lukwago J in Life style February 28, 2022

As a parent, it’s your job to make sure your kids have the tools to protect themselves, and education is one of the most important tools. You need to talk to your kids about the possibility of being kidnaped and what they should do in that situation. A plan of action can help your child get back home safely sooner. If you’re wondering what you should teach your kids to do in a kidnapping situation, consider some of the following key pieces of advice.

Don’t Get in Cars

One of the easiest ways for children to avoid kidnapping situations is to avoid getting in any unknown cars. It’s not uncommon for kidnapers to offer kids a ride or follow them in a car for a while, so make sure your children know about this behavior. If somebody asks your child to get in the car, tell them to say no.

Avoiding cars is especially important because once your child is in a car, the kidnaper can take them to a secondary location, and it becomes harder to locate your child. If your child doesn’t get in any cars, they’re greatly reducing their risk of being kidnaped.

Use the Buddy System

Another thing your child can do to prevent kidnappings is use the buddy system. Kidnappers tend to look for kids who appear to be easy targets, which means they tend to go after kids who are alone. Make sure your kid knows how to use the buddy system whether they’re playing at the park, walking home from school, or playing outside a friend’s house.

The buddy system is a simple concept: Your kid should never leave parental supervision without somebody with them. If your kid is going to a friend’s house, make sure you take them there safely. If your child walks home from school, make sure they have a large group of friends they’re walking with. While this might not seem like a huge deal, The Committee for Missing Children recommends using the buddy system as a way to reduce kidnappings.

Say “No” If You Need To

Kids are conditioned to believe that they have to listen to adults, but that’s not always the case. In fact, sometimes listening to adults can put a child in danger, so it’s all about setting boundaries and knowing who to listen to. Make sure your child understands that they’re allowed to say no to anybody who makes them feel uncomfortable. Even if it’s a teacher or a friend’s parent, you should make sure your child understands the power of the word “no.”

Maintain Your Privacy

Kidnapers often ask inappropriate questions or ask children to do inappropriate things, so talk to your kids about maintaining their privacy. Maintaining privacy is especially important when it comes to strangers; your kids should know from an early age that nobody has a right to their body or their personal information.

If somebody tries taking a picture of your child or touching them inappropriately, make sure they report that information to an adult as soon as possible. The sooner you make people aware of a possible abduction, the easier it will be to prevent it from actually occurring.

Don’t “Help” Adults

For the most part, adults don’t need any sort of “help” from children. Talk to your child about strangers asking them for help, and make sure they know not to trust anybody who needs help “finding a missing dog” or who will take them to their parents who are “in trouble.” Unless a child’s parent tells them that they need help with something, children shouldn’t be helping adults. If an adult stranger asks for help, don’t help them.

Yell When Necessary

You’ve probably spent a lot of time teaching your kids to stay somewhat quiet and avoid screaming when they’re playing. While this is easy on your ears when your kids are at home, it’s also important for kids to understand when yelling is necessary. If an adult is trying to touch a child or get a child into their car, it’s completely acceptable for that child to scream for help. Simply yelling “This isn’t my mother/father” can be a big help if a child is being abducted.

Stay Away from People Following You

Oftentimes, a kidnapping starts with an adult following a child, whether they’re on foot or in a car. If your child notices anybody following them for an extended period of time, they should look for the nearest safe adult and get help. If there’s a school or a police station nearby where your child is playing, have them lead the kidnaper to that location. Being followed is often the first step of a kidnapping, so it’s important to get help right away if your child is being followed.

Ask Your Parents for Permission

One of the easiest ways to prevent kidnappings is to ask your parents for permission before doing anything. Talk to your kids about getting permission before hanging out with friends or going outside to play. Getting permission is important because it ensures your child is going somewhere that’s parent-approved, plus you’ll know where your child is supposed to be if they don’t come home on time.

You’ve got a lot on your plate as a parent, but teaching your children about kidnappings and what they can do to avoid them is an important part of raising them. To learn more about kidnappings and what you can do to prevent them, contact The Committee for Missing Children for more information, or to get help as a left-behind parent.

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