After the kidnapping and miraculous rescue after four years of a boy from the state of Mo. that was finally reunited with his family, many parents are wondering how to speak to their children about abductions and kidnappings. No person wants to be in the news talking about their child being kidnapped and thus Eddie Alaniz, a police officer with the City of Moline, Ill. recommends these tips.
\n \u201cDepending of the kid\u2019s age, talk to your children about stranger danger.\u201d Alaniz said.
\n\u201cIf they don\u2019t know who the person is, tell the parents about suspicious activity. Don\u2019t talk to them [the stranger].\u00a0 Tell police, scream, make noise, do things like that. Don\u2019t say anything,\u201d Officer Alaniz said.
\nParents should tell their children that kidnapping is rare but that it\u2019s important to have a family plan, just in case. With the new age of information through the internet, telephone books, and other means of obtaining information, the kidnapper may even sound like a stalker. To a child, the information would sound like someone who knew the parents. \u201cThey\u2019ll [kidnappers] will try to find information, if they didn\u2019t hear it from the parents,\u201d Officer Alaniz said.
\nThe kidnappers will try to encourage the kid to go into their car. The kidnapper may offer some candy or have a real nice car. \u201cNowadays, things are so materialistic. That\u2019s where it starts. The parents should use examples of the missing kids for proof,\u201d Alaniz said.
\nThe question on some people\u2019s minds was why the boy in Mo. never escaped within the four years of captivity.\u00a0 \u201cKids are so smart. What happens is that they are so young, they are taken out of their environment, shell shocked, and they\u2019re scared\u2026at a young age, you don\u2019t know any better and the children feel comfortable. The kid was scared and at such a young age didn\u2019t know what to do,\u201d Alaniz said of the Mo. abduction case.
\nSometimes a family splits up and one of the parents wants to take the kids away and in some cases they go overseas making the return home much harder.\u00a0 This proves that in many cases the children are kidnapped by someone that they know. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children says that, \u201cThe biggest myth is dangers to children come from strangers. In the majority of cases the perpetrator is someone the parents\/guardian or child knows, and that person may be in a position of trust or responsibility to the family.\u201d
\nWith the current immigration debate, some kidnappers may even threaten the kids with immigration status. \u201cKidnappers will try anything to do harm to the family. That\u2019s a form of threat. A young kid could be scared. There are even grownups who are scared when immigration is mentioned. As a child, they believe what the kidnapper says,\u201d Alaniz said.\u201d
\nThe National Center for Missing and Exploited Children offered these ten tips.
\n1.\u00a0 Make sure you know where each of your children are at all times.
\n2.\u00a0 Never leave children unattended in a vehicle, whether it is running or not.
\n3. Be involved in your children\u2019s activities.
\n4.\u00a0 Listen to your children.
\n5.\u00a0 Take the time to talk to your children.
\n6. Teach your children they have the right to say NO to anyone.
\n7.\u00a0 Be sensitive to any changes in your children\u2019s behavior and attitude.
\n8. Be sure to screen babysitters and caregivers.
\n9. Practice basic safety skills with your children.
\n10. Remember there is no substitute for your attention and supervision.<\/p>\n
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