Stranger Danger
The top 5-tips any parent can teach their child.
Age 4-8
1. No adult ever needs help from a child.
2. Stay close to your guardian (within eye sight).
3. If separated from your guardian look for a police officer, someone who works at the store or other authority figure.
4. Make sure your child carries an identification card (i.e. Mom or Dad’s business card with a cell phone number and child’s name).
5. If a stranger tries to hurt you, scream for help, kick, make a scene. Don’t stop!
Age 8 and up
1. You have more freedom. You MUST be aware of your surroundings.
2. Listen to your intuition. If a situation seems wrong, it probably is.
3. Carry identification and enough money to get home.
4. Make sure someone knows your schedule, where you will be and when.
5. If you find yourself attacked for any reason, fight back with everything you have. Don’t stop!
Biggest mistakes parents tend to make regarding this issue?
We tell our children not to talk to strangers but if attacked, often strangers can help us. We must teach our children to use their intuition to judge who may be good or bad or whether a situation is right or wrong.
What are some self-defense myths you can bust?
That someone will always be there to protect us. The only true protection you have is yourself and your ability to protect and defend yourself. “There is No Defense… without Self Defense.”There have been tragic stories in the news that have fueled your mission to protect kids.
There have been many situations that have made us aware of the day to day dangers that face our children. Some have gained national news attention, some just local to our area. In each and every case had these children known more about protecting themselves, perhaps the outcome would have been different. Avoiding an isolated route home, a twist of an arm, a loud scream, a good fight back. It is not a guarantee of course, but providing young people with the knowledge of how to protect themselves can reduce their odds of becoming victims. Having my own young children is my daily inspiration to help anyone I can to protect themselves.
Protect yourself, your family, and your children
Protect yourself, your family, and your children. Empower your children by providing them with “survival techniques.” By learning to understand the responsibilities and vulnerabilities of being more independent, they are taking the first steps toward safety. Each individual whether child or adult, has the potential to become self reliant and have confidence in their ability to protect themselves. Preparedness encompasses an understanding of your sixth sense, becoming fully aware of your surroundings, not letting your guard down, and recognizing a potential threat while having the appropriate response to that threat. Emotional, mental and physical, defensive and offensive protection techniques can help your child NOT to be a victim or target. “There is NO Defense…without Self defense.”
Five simple self-defense rules for children:
1. If in doubt, out. Always trust your instincts. If something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t.
2. My safety first, their feelings second. It’s OK to be rude sometimes. Do what you have to and make yourself safe.
3. Don’t be fooled. Adults don’t generally ask kids for help. They ask other adults for help.
4. If confronted, bolt and run. Follow these four steps: No, Go, Yell and Tell. Scream out “No!” Run as fast as you can toward people. Scream. Don’t keep what happened a secret, even if the attacker threatens to hurt someone else if you do.