A self-defense and martial arts school from the Iowa Area provides child protection tips on their website monthly:
- Never let your child go into a public restroom by themselves. Little boys may have to go into the women restroom with their mothers and little girls into the men’s room with their fathers. There are evil people out there – please don’t take any chances.
- Get a passport for your child. That makes it difficult for someone else to get one for him / her. Contact the Post Office.
- Keep fingerprints, footprints, and birth certificates of your child, as well as other means of identification.
- Communicate with your child openly so he or she will feel comfortable telling you about problems and troubles.
- Let your child know that it is not okay for anyone to touch them where their swimsuit covers.
- Teach your child not to walk over to a car whose occupants are asking directions. Most adults do not ask children how to get places.
- Teach your child not to ride home from school with anyone, even if they say you told them to pick up your child.
- NEVER let your child go into a public restroom by him or herself.
- Pay attention to threats by an ex-spouse of stealing your child.
- Just in case you step out for a minute, role play ways of answering the door. Tell your child what to say when someone knocks on the door, then you be the stranger.
- Teach your child to yell ” You’re not my Mommy” or “You’re not my Daddy” in case someone in a public area tries to abduct them.
- Does your child(ren) know your family’s secret password — just in case someone other than you needs to pick him / her up? Make up a fun password and keep your child(ren) safe. Superexbialidotious…
- Walk the neighborhood with your child. Pick the safest routes to school and friends houses. Discuss safe places to go in an emergency.
