| It's nearly impossible for parents to imagine someone | | | | their lives, like a parent, grandparent, teacher, etc. |
| harming their child. But it happens every day in every | | | | 3. Teach your kids from a very young age to call 911 |
| country in the world. | | | | to reach the police and other kid protectors. Let |
| It happened to my child. I am the mother of a | | | | them practice calling on your home phone and your |
| 14-year-old girl that was abducted by a bad guy off | | | | cell phone. Post 9-1-1 on your fridge with magnetic |
| her bike a block from home in a safe neighborhood. | | | | numbers to remind your kids of the importance of |
| This soulless child predator then drove her to a | | | | those three numbers. |
| nearby park to rape her. | | | | 4. Teach your kids why they MUST avoid all |
| But things didn't go down as he had planned. Amber | | | | strangers. Strangers are people they don't know or |
| fought back with every fiber of her being and | | | | know very well. Give them your permission not to be |
| screamed for help. She was so loud that a neighbor a | | | | friendly to strangers. Tell them to NEVER go |
| block away heard her cries and ran to help her. Then | | | | anywhere with a stranger or accept a gift from a |
| the big, bad predator got into his car and took off | | | | stranger. |
| like the pathetic coward he truly was. | | | | 5. Teach them to never go outdoors alone or |
| So how did Amber know what to do if she were | | | | unsupervised, even in their own back yard. If they |
| ever grabbed? I taught her ahead of time. I told her | | | | leave the house, they MUST always have a trusted |
| about bad guys and how to avoid and outsmart | | | | adult with them. |
| them. Today Amber is 35 years old and the mother | | | | 6. Teach them what to do if they come in contact |
| of my two precious granddaughters. She lived to tell | | | | with a bad person. Yell for help. Yell words like "FIRE!" |
| and I am eternally grateful. | | | | "HELP ME!" Run away. Fight back and do whatever |
| Here are 7 tips you MUST teach your children to | | | | you can to escape. Report the incident. Enroll your |
| prepare them just in case they are ever in Harm's | | | | children in a self-defense class. Please. At the very |
| Way. | | | | least, have them practice yelling, running, kicking, |
| 1. Teach your kids that there are good and bad | | | | punching, and trying to squirm out of your arms. |
| people in this world, both male and female. Good | | | | 7. Teach your kids to help others if they witness |
| people act in nice, loving ways. Bad people act mean | | | | something bad happening to another kid or to |
| and violent and hurt kids and others. | | | | someone else. They can help by calling 911. The world |
| 2. Teach your kids to avoid bad people and to tell on | | | | needs good citizens. |
| them (report their bad behavior) to a trusted adult. | | | | Be safe out there! |
| Help them to identify who the trusted adults are in | | | | |