REFRESH YOUR KIDS

[Guest guest]

Dear Young Parents of Small Children in TBP,

 

Love and Love alone....

 

I hope the Moderator will aloow this to be posted in TBP, as it is an

important aspect concerning our children.

 

Love and Love alone....

 

P. Gopi Krishna

 

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REFRESH YOUR KIDS

 

There are too many stories of missing kids in the news today. Whether

it has increased or not, it still is something we should constantly

reinforce with our kids. They need to have a refresher on a regular

basis. Just like your battery needs replaced in your smoke detector,

be sure you go over these things with your kids. Above all remember

to give your kids a definition of a STRANGER. Use this funpage as a

guideline and please pass it along to others.

 

Stranger Danger

 

The Stranger Danger Program educates children on the dangers they may

face and to ensure they know it is okay to speak up if something bad

happens to them.

 

Friendly strangers can be dangerous strangers. Strangers who offer

treats to children may be offering threats instead.

 

Teach young children what a stranger is: Anyone they do not know well.

 

Even if children know how to avoid trouble, sometimes trouble -- in

the form of dangerous strangers -- may find them. Children will

encounter strangers when you're not around. Most strangers are well-

meaning and not to be feared, but because children are trusting and

vulnerable, they can fall for offers by adults who seem kind, but are

not.

 

Make sure your children learn and follow these basic rules when

you're not around:

 

Never accept rides, candy, gifts, money or medicine from a stranger.

Never get close to a car if a stranger calls out to you for

directions or anything else. It is easy for a stranger to pull you

into a car.

 

Never give your name or address to a stranger.

 

Never open the door to anyone you do not know.

 

Never tell callers that you are home alone. Say mom or dad can not

come to the phone, and will call them back.

 

Never volunteer family vacation plans or other information about your

home.

 

Always avoid strangers who are hanging around restrooms or the

playground and who may want to play with you or your friends.

 

What about the persistent stranger? Here's what the experts say you

should teach your kids:

 

If a stranger in a car bothers you, turn and run in the opposite

direction. It is not easy for a car to change directions suddenly.

When frightened, run to the nearest person you can find - find a

Sheriff's Deputy or police officer, a person working in a yard, or a

neighborhood house or store. While you should always stay away from

strangers who approach you, it is okay for you to ask an adult you do

not know for help.

 

If a stranger tries to follow you on foot or tries to grab you, run

away, scream and make lots of noise. The last thing a dangerous

stranger wants is a lot of attention.

 

Kids spend a good part of their lives at school - in the classroom

and on the playground. Strangers who want to hurt children know this

too. Find out what the school's policy is for children leaving school

premises with adults other than their parent or guardian. Also, find

out what school security measures exist to ensure students' safety.

Get together with other parents if you find these measures lacking or

weak and work together with school officials and law enforcement to

beef up school security. You won't be sorry!

 

Teach Children How to Avoid Trouble

 

It is normal and natural that children will spend time playing or

traveling out of the sight of trusted and caring adults. The best way

to keep trouble away from kids is to teach them to avoid areas and

situations where trouble might lurk. Here are some basic " play it

safe " rules for children:

 

Never play in deserted areas such as the woods, a parking lot, an

alley, deserted buildings or new construction.

Always stick to the same safe route in traveling to and from school

or a friend's house.

 

Always try to play or walk with friend. It is safer and more fun.

Never play or hang around in such public areas as washrooms or

elevators.

 

Try to wait with a friend for public transportation. Try to sit near

the driver on the bus.

 

Always keep doors and windows locked when home alone.

 

Never show money in public. Carry money only if necessary and keep it

in a pocket until needed.

 

Never hitchhike. Never!!

 

Never walk or play alone outside at night.

 

Always tell a family member or other adult in charge where you will

be at all times, and what time you will be home.

 

Teach your children to walk confidently and stay alert to where they

are and what is going on around them.

 

Teach Children How to Respond

 

How children respond to trouble will depend upon their age and the

particular circumstances they encounter.

 

More importantly however, is whether a child knows what to do and

where to go when feeling threatened.

 

While it is important for a child to know how to avoid and spot

danger, it is also critical that a child knows how to respond quickly

and wisely when confronted with trouble. Children should understand

that there are many people they can depend on and should turn to when

they feel unsafe.

 

Teach children that Sheriff's Deputies are their friends, whose job

is to protect them. If a Sheriff's Deputy can not be located easily,

a child should also know to run and seek out a trusted teacher,

neighbor, or a friend's parent, when frightened or feeling endangered.

Children should know that they need report trouble right away .

Teach children how to operate the telephone, to call for emergency

assistance:

 

They should know how to dial " indPolice " 1-0-0, " or other emergency

numbers used in your area.

 

They should memorize their area code and phone number, and maybe a

friend's number as well.

 

They should memorize your work number.

 

Keep a list of emergency phone numbers, and a close relative or

friend's number posted near all the phones in your house.