SELF-DEFENSE FOR YOUR CHILDREN
In our day and age, every parent should spend time to explain basic self-defense rules to her children. You should be honest, explain several scenarios that may occur and rehearse them with your child.
Sadly, overwhelming majority of child abusers are friends of family members. The rest will abduct and assault a child after gaining his trust through a small talk. Commonly, an abuser will ask a child about a lost pet or a child, show a photo, and ask him to help.
If a car approaches your child, she should run in the direction opposite to traffic and seek help from an adult. Along the same lines, she should be aware of her surroundings and pay attention to the situation.
You should also come up with a secret word that only you, your close family members, and your child know. Your child should never leave with a person who does not know the secret word. Even if the stranger looks like a nice little old lady, a police officer, friend of a family, the child should refuse to leave until a school official verifies the identity and the parent’s permission.
Speaking of secrets, teach your child that if anyone asks her to keep a secret from parents, she should immediately tell the parents because she is in danger. Likewise, if an adult asks her for help, she should run away and tell her parents.
Do not place any nametags on outer clothing or backpacks. This is a common mistake and will help an abuser to gain trust of your children.
Remind your child to call 911 if something is wrong. He can use a phone booth without any coins or any available phone.
If lost in a store, find a woman with a child and ask for help. Never leave the store without a parent, not even with the helpful woman or a store employee.
Also teach your their children to yell “NO” and continue to yell. There is no reason why some adult will touch their body and the only proper response is yelling “NO” and “THIS IS NOT MY DAD/MOM”
There are also a few situations you should practice. Grab your child behind her in a bear hug. Lift her and start walking away. She should start yelling and kicking with all her force. She should also hit the attacker in the face with the back of her head.
