POSITIVE Parenting

Yesterday The Gleaner presented several recommendations from the police on how parents can protect their children. Here are more:

Children should be taught that if anyone gives them a gift or shows them a great deal of attention they should inform you. Abductors will often initiate innocent contact with a child to try to get close to that child.

When you and your children are at a public place, such as a shopping mall or park, you may want to designate an area where they should go in the event they get separated from you. Children should be taught that if they get separated from you in a public place they should not wander around. Instead, they should go to a checkout counter or to a security guard and ask for help.

Encourage teenagers to entertain and visit friends at home, rather than meet at parties and social scenes over the holidays, once an adult is available to supervise home visits.

Encourage teenagers to communicate their movements and company with you while out and about.

Children should be taught that if a stranger asks to take their picture to tell the stranger 'NO' and then to inform you (or their teacher) immediately. Someone who is interested in taking a picture of your child should be asking you, and not your child. Child predators may have an interest in your child and want a picture to use when fantasising about them. Once fantasy is not enough, it could turn into abduction.

Children should be taught that if an adult asks them for help, they should stay away. Explain to your children that adults should not be asking them for help, but should be asking other adults. Emphasise that an adult should never be asking them for help in any situation, including asking for directions or locating a lost animal, such as a puppy or cat. Also, explain to your children that they should never go anywhere with someone who tells them their parents are in trouble and need their help.

Children should be taught that if an adult asks them to keep a secret or tells them things that make them feel uncomfortable, they should inform you immediately. Abductors will often initiate innocent contact with a child to try to get close to him/her. It is a good idea to check the background of all adults who have a position of authority over your children such as babysitters, caregivers, coaches, and teachers.

Initiate conversations with your children about the appropriate behaviour of adults around them so that they will feel comfortable telling you if someone has acted inappropriately.

Children should be taught that it is okay for them to say 'NO' to adults, especially if they sense they are being asked to do something that is wrong. They should then inform you immediately of the event.