reblogged:  My Kid Would Never Do That!

by Swanky Baby's Mom

Beginning Sunday, April 15th, Dateline NBC will airing a series called "My Kid Would Never Do That". This series will be teaching your kids and you about stranger safety. I really think everyone should watch this. On the Today Show this morning and they did one of those undercover scenarios where a fake ice cream man tries to lure kids into his truck. One of the planted kids is the son of Today Show anchor Natalie Morales, and watching her tear up as she watched her kid get into the ice cream truck was hard to watch. Even though everyone but her son knew it was fake, she basically watched her kid get kidnapped.

I thought I would pass along three crucial steps from Dr. Michele Borba, an educational psychologist, you can teach your kids about stranger safety. I have summarized info given for each step. Please click HERE to read all the detailed information she gives on this important issue.

Step 1 Empower Your Child to Say “No!”
If you want your kids to stand up for themselves, don’t get in the habit of speaking for them.

*Give Permission to Say “NO:” Studies show that kids under the age of nine rarely say “No” to a sexual offender because they were told “to obey adults.” So give your child permission to yell NO!
*Use your gut instinct: A “fear factor” can be powerful in keeping kids safe, but often isn’t used because we fail to help our kids learn to trust their gut instincts.
*Establish a family secret code. Choose a memorable code like “Geronimo,” to give only to family members or trusted individuals responsible for your kids in your absence.
*Teach: “Drop, Holler, and Run.” Teach your child that if he ever needs to get away quickly, he should drop whatever he is carrying, holler, and run.


STEP 2: Help Your Child Recognize Suspicious Adult Behavior
These points are not designed for one discussion, but topics for numerous shorter chats over the years with your kids. Talk about each one in the context of your child’s age and then watch how your child responds.

*Asking for help: Can you help me look for my puppy?” Emphasize that a stranger does not ask kids for help.
*Offering treats: “I have a skateboard in my car. Would you like it?” "I'll let you have one of my kittens (or pet my cat), if you will sit on my lap and watch this video.”
*Feigning an emergency: “Hurry! Your mom was in an accident. I’ll take you to the hospital.”
*Flaunting authority: “I think you’re the kid who hurt my son. Come with me and we’ll go find your parents.”
*Pretending to be an official: “I’m with the F.B.I. and this is my badge. You must come.” (Tell your child to call you ASAP to verify the situation.)
*Faking friendship. “I’m an old friend of your dad’s. He asked me to come over. Can you take me to your house?”
*Keeping a “secret.” Predators often try to make kids promise to keep the abuse a secret. Teach your child: “If any adult asks you to keep an uncomfortable secret, tell me.” You might say: “It’s okay to not keep a secret even if you promised an adult.” *Needing personal information: “I need your phone number so I can contact your parent.” Stress to your child: “Do NOT give out personal information. Then teach: “An adult does not ask a child for personal information. They ask the child’s parent.” (An exception is the child’s school).
*Requiring kids to open the door.” Stress repeatedly to never open the door to someone who is not an immediate family member. Explain that anyone who is a friend will understand your rule and not mind waiting. Stress: “Don’t say anything. Find a parent!” If you’re not home, tell your child to phone you from a backroom or 9-1-1 if in danger.


STEP 3: Rehearse Stranger Safety Skills Repeatedly
The best way to teach any skill is to show what it looks like, and then practice over and over until the child can use the safety skill without you.

*Watch the Dateline special “Stranger Safety” with your child and use the examples of the children who got on the truck – as well as the children who did not.
*Consider your child’s age, developmental level and the safety skills he needs at that point in his life.
*National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) have shown that 85 percent of kids found alive after being abducted did not consider their kidnapper to be a stranger, which is all the more reason to teach different types of safety tips.