Jesus Loves Me

We, as parents and grandparents want to do everything we can to protect our children. No one wants one of their children to become a statistic! No one wants to have their child listed as a "MISSING CHILD." SO! What is the one thing parents always tell their kids????

We must all begin to re-teach this to our children! DON'T JUST TELL THEM: "DON'T TALK TO STRANGERS!" TEACH THEM: "DON'T TALK TO PEOPLE YOU DO NOT KNOW!" Let your children know that a friendly nicely dressed guy who approaches them with the story, "I lost my puppy, did you see it? Would you come and help me find him?" is a stranger because they do not know him and they should not talk to him or "help" him look for this "so-called puppy" he lost. If they are approached by an adult with this story, make sure your children know to come and get you immediately. NEVER, NEVER GO WITH THIS PERSON!

This is only one example of what kind of story is used to convince the children to go with these people. Another is: "Your mother and father asked me to pick you up and take you to them." Make sure your children know that YOU WILL NEVER SEND SOMEONE THEY DO NOT KNOW to pick them up. Be sure they have absolutely no doubt in their minds on this. Tell them to scream, holler and run like crazy if anyone they do not know ever tries to make them get in a car. Be sure they know that it is 100% okay to do this.

One suggestion I read about was to give your child a "secret code word" and explain that if anyone else comes to pick them up .... This person MUST KNOW THE SECRET CODE WORD! Tell your child to ask them what the secret code word is and if the person doesn't know it, to go to their teacher or person in charge and let them know there is a problem with whoever is trying to pick them up and to try and locate your parents. Make sure they know this secret word applies to everyone, the babysitter, a neighbor, aunt, uncle .... YES! Even someone they know must know this secret code. Don't forget to change the code word once it has been given out to someone.

Tell your child: Always play or walk home from school in groups. "Practice Safety in Numbers!" Also, explain to your child that if someone in a vehicle stops near them and wants them to, "Come over to the car" for any reason . . . "Don't do it! Keep a "Safe Distance" away from the vehicle." NEVER GET WITHIN ARMS REACH and it is up to you Mom and Dad to show them what "arms reach" is. Get in your car and have your child stand outside the door in the place where they think they are out of arms reach. Do your best to try and "grab" them. If you can reach your child, even enough to touch their clothing, they are too close .... they don't understand and you need to show them how far away to be. I often wonder how many "Missing Children" would still be with us if they had only known the difference between a stranger and somebody they do not know? Please, talk to your little ones, make sure they know that there is a difference. They don't have to be "scary" to be a "stranger" - strangers are well-dressed and nice-looking too. "Strangers" can even be someone you know.