Sep 13, 2007

Protecting Children From Sexual Offenders and Predators

Part seven in my short series on school safety. Since we're all heading back to school, or already have gone back I thought it might help to remind us as parents of the extras we can do to keep the kids safe. A lot of this information comes from the Florida Department of Education Office of School Transportation Management, Office of Safe Schools. Please review them with your children and have a happy beginning of school this year!

Tips for Protecting Your Children From Sexual Offenders and Predators

Talk to your children about following these rules:

  1. Stay away from any unfamiliar person who is trying to trick you or force you to go with him or her.

  2. Let your parents or trusted adults know about any suspicious persons or situations.

  3. Learn to describe people and vehicles.

  4. Know where to run and how to forcibly resist capture.

  5. Scream to be seen and to scare a stranger away.

  6. Stay with a buddy, a group, or parents at bus stops.

  7. Report anyone hanging around or passing by regularly.

  8. Accept a ride only from someone approved by the school.

  9. Walk or bike only along a route that your parents or the school has determined is safe.

  10. Lock the door and never tell callers you are home alone.

3 comments:

ellen said...

hey there is also a great website that shows you the offenders in your area, it is worth checking out
familywatchdog.us

Tee/Tracy said...

I find all this so hard to talk about with my kids but I know it's necessary so I do. Just the thought makes me sick to my stomach.

My kids have a lot of questions about exactly who is a stranger. It seems so hard to define. So, I have had a great result with that Stranger Safety DVD that John Walsh recommends (The Safe Side). They answer everything and the kids love to watch it. They did a great job of keeping it kid friendly while still maintaining the seriousness of the issue.

By the way - added you in Google Reader. Thanks :)

Stacey063 said...

Yes, this is a hard one to talk about with the kids, I know my kids worry about it all,but they don't really understand just WHAT a predator might do to them....that's jus impossible to discuss!