Eight Strategies to Teach Your Children to Protect Themselves From Predators
by Despite the futile, desperate attempts of Jaycee’s stepfather to save her, she was snatched away from him before his very eyes as he struggled to reach her in time. Dear God, should any parent ever have to suffer such agony?
I listened to the news on CNN as many of these details and questions were asked. As many people called-in and blamed the criminal justice system for not keeping this monster away from the innocent children we nurture and love. I wondered whether blaming will help anyone. It is what it is. I wish I could say that I believe it is likely to change anytime soon. But I don’t believe that. What I do believe is that we who love and nurture our children, must also arm our babies with knowledge and awareness. Will this shatter their naivete’? Oh yes. Is that reality a heartbreaking one? Most definitely. If we were to ask Jaycee’s parents if that would have been better than to have lost their daughter for eighteen years, I do not wonder what their response would be.
As parents, there are some things we can do. Rather than to feel helpless to these predators, we can empower our children in ways that will equip them with a far greater chance of staying safe. Protect your children.
Warn them, that they must:
1. Never be alone with adults who are strangers,
2. If they see a car slowing down and pulling-up to them, RUN AWAY AS FAST AS THEIR LITTLE LEGS WILL CARRY THEM,
3. If anyone approaches them on-foot who they do not know, RUN AWAY AS FAST AS THEIR LITTLE LEGS WILL CARRY THEM,
4. If anyone grabs them, (so that people in the area will know that they need help from an adult) SCREAM AS LOUDLY AS THEY CAN, OVER AND OVER, THE WORDS, “YOU’RE NOT MYMOTHER!” OR, (if a male perpetrator) “YOU’RE NOT MY DAD!” Keep screaming these words while kicking, biting, clawing especially at the eyes,and fighting,WITH ALL THEIR MIGHT!
5. Never be alone with any adult their parents haven’t put them in the charge of,
6. If they ever feel even slightly uncomfortable around any adult, GET AWAY FROM THAT PERSON AS FAST AS THEY CAN GO!
7. If a stranger grabs them, hold onto a lamp post, a mailbox, anything near them and don’t let go while screaming and screaming and screaming, and
8. If a stranger calls them over to their car, especially to show them a puppy or a kitten, run away in the opposite direction as fast as they can go!
Knowledge is power. We must empower our children with the knowledge that can save their lives so that in one foul swoop, life as they know it, cannot be ripped away from them by one of the many predators who live and who walk among us, and among our children.
Copyright by JC Eberhart 2008: © JC Eberhart and JC Eberhart’s Blog, 1974 – 2010. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to JC Eberhart and JC Eberhart’s Blog with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
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