• Create a “password” known only between you and your child.

• Always accompany your young child in public places and teach them never to play in or around the bathroom.

• Create a meeting place if you and your child get separated.

• Create a plan to get help if the child gets lost or if an emergency happens to you.  Teach them to go to a trusted adult, such as a police officer or someone who works at the store your in and to speak clearly and loudly.

• Teach your child to always be aware of their surroundings and act confident in their movements.

• Keep an updated photo of your child with you at all times.  Know your child’s current height and weight and any additional descriptives that would be unique to your child (scars, birthmarks, etc.).  Have your child fingerprinted.

• When going door-to-door for fund-raisers, always accompany your child.

• Get to know your child’s friends and the parents.  Make sure your child will always be supervised and to call if they decide to change locations.  Know where your child is at all times (names, addresses, and phone numbers).

• Teach your child the “Buddy System.”

• Teach your children how to dial 911 from home and from a pay phone.  Never let the child hang up the phone after dialing 911 because police can use the line to track the child.

• Never leave your child alone in a public place, stroller or vehicle.

• Create a short list of people that you give permission for your child to go to or with.

• Take time to talk to your children and clearly state the rules of your family.

• Teach children the difference between a good secret and a bad secret.  Good secrets like surprise birthday parties or surprise gifts are ok, but a bad secret is a secret that makes them fell bad or scared.  Tell them that they will not be a “tattle tale” if they tell their parents about a bad secret.

• Teach your child to be assertive and yell at strangers.  Teach them that it is ok to say “NO” to an adult.

• Teach your child to run in the opposite direction of a car, if a stranger approaches them in this way. 

• Teach your child to run away screaming, if a stranger approaches them.

• Teach your child to stay at least 3 arm lengths away from a vehicle or from a person.  Teach them to always keep their bodies in an open space and to use self-defense only during an emergency/dangerous situation.

• Ask your child’s school if they provide a call back if your child does not show up at school.  If they don’t, encourage them to start this program.

• Teach your children never to let anyone know that they are at home alone.  Tell them not to answer the door and tell them when answering the telephone to say that mom/dad is busy and cannot take the phone right now.  If you are expecting someone to come over, tell your child so that the child can see if it is that person when the doorbell rings.

• Tell your child that if something looks wrong about the house, when they come home, to go to a neighbor’s house and call the police.

• When allowing your child to use the Internet, keep an eye on your child.  Put the computer in the family room, or other room where you are likely to spend a lot of time in.  Tell your child to never give out their name, address, or phone number or use any of these as a user name or password.  Tell them that it is never safe to meet an “Internet friend.”

• Practice role-plays.  Test your child’s understanding of your rules.

HELPFUL WEBSITES

Child Search

National Center for Missing and Exploited Children

NetSmartz Workshop

Kid Power

Take Charge!

*The information listed herein was researched on the above listed links and only highlights the tips.  Parents are encouraged to visit these websites and obtain further information.  The Olivette Police Department hopes that this information will help your family remain safe.