Thursday, January 08, 2009

A Parent's Worst Nightmare

By Carol Ann

When a child is abducted, there is nothing that a parent can do except fall to their knees. The mere concept strikes terror in the hearts of parents everywhere. There are some things a parent can do to minimize the possibility of abduction, however.

When in public, you need to keep your child within arm's reach at all times. Don't let them out of your sight and certainly don't leave them unattended in a car while you just run into a store to grab something. You should make sure your children are within touching distance at all times.

In case you happen to lose contact with your child in a store, go directly and quickly to the nearest employee or management and announce that your child is missing. Most stores will immediately lock their exits until the missing child is found. Waiting even for a brief few moments can make the difference in finding your child.

Other devices to keep children safe are RF frequency locator devices which attach to the child's ankle or wrist. They are relatively inexpensive and allow for peace of mind. Another option is a leash. Yes, a leash. Many people consider them in bad taste, but they are the best solution for some children who cannot be controlled otherwise.

While it is important to teach our children the difference between right and wrong, we should be careful about teaching them that all strangers are bad. We don't want our children to lose curiosity when they meet others. But as with any discipline, there are no guarantees. The use of smart judgment will allow you to avoid most possibilities of bad situations.

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