“75% of child abduction is conducted by the known while 25% of them are kidnapped by strangers“.
Whenever the morning news brings the story of a kidnapped child or teen, the terrifying prospect of abduction fills the minds of parents everywhere. But it’s important to remember that most kids pass through childhood safely.
One of the challenges of being a parent is teaching your kids to be cautious without filling them with fear or anxiety. Although some dangers do exist, you lessen the chances that your child will be abducted.
The reason and reality behind child abductions may disturb us. The circumstances surrounding child abduction are often quite different from the way they’re shown in TV shows and movies.
There are some of the common reasons for child abduction which can be discussed.
Most of the kids who are reported missing have run away or there has been a misunderstanding with their parents. In this case kid feels that they are getting less attention from their parents when there is more than one kid in the family. In such cases kids get emotionally attached with others and in attachment they pass on sensitive information of their family to others. This thing mostly happens with girl children in their teens as compared to male children with ratio of 5:1. Such children are sold for prostitution.
Other reason behind kidnapping is ransom. Kids are very easy target for kidnappers to be kidnapped. In Indian culture, girl children are always being watched by parents from birth till their marriage. Male children have more freedom than female counterparts, so the former are kidnapped more than the later.
The third reason is kidnapping of infants. The time is gone when small kids were kidnapped for begging. This type of kidnapping is done for selling the infant to those who don’t have babies. Although the childless couples can go for surrogacy or adoption which is very much legal procedures but most of such couples do not want to involve into them. Infertility among couples has incremented in recent years. So, there is a big market of child sale & purchase as the demand too is high.
The other reason behind kidnapping is jealousy or revenge. This type of kidnapping is 100% done by the acquaintances, neighbors or close relatives. Sometimes the kidnapping is also done due to property disputes in family. Kidnapping done under such circumstances is very dangerous. In such cases, the child can be seriously harmed. In extreme cases, there is a death threat to the child because kidnapper never wants himself to be identified.
Of the kids and teens who are truly abducted, most are abducted by the known or an acquaintance; 25% of kids are kidnapped by strangers. Almost all kids kidnapped by strangers are taken by men, and about two thirds of stranger abductions involve females.
Most abducted kids are in their teens and they are rarely abducted from school grounds.
Strategies for Preventing Abductions
About 300 children go missing every day in India. Many cases might be solved more easily if parents can provide a few key pieces of information. We should make sure your kids have the safety information that could help prevent abduction.
These strategies may help:
- Parents should make a good bond with their children. Not only should the girls, the parents try to be friendly also with the boys. Teenage is a very sensitive age, so the teens need utmost care from the family. The parents should behave with their children like a friend. So that they can unhesitatingly share their problems with their parents rather than confiding in the outsiders.
- Keep a keen watch on your children. There may be a great bond between you and children but sometimes the child might hesitate and feel uncomfortable to share particular information with you. They might feel shame or shyness while sharing it with you, that so why they are reluctant to share. Parents should silently keep a watch on their children’s behavior, attitude and activities. If there is a noticeable change in their behavior, first make them feel comfortable and then try to talk to them. If you discover that your child has chosen the wrong path, understand their psychology and try counseling them.
- Make online safety a priority. The Internet is a great tool, but it’s also a place for predators to stalk kids. Be aware of your kids’ Internet activities and chat room “friends,” and remind them never to give out personal information. Avoid posting identifying information or photos of your kids online.
- Set boundaries about the places your kids go. Supervise them in places like malls, movie theaters, parks, public bathrooms, or while going to a friend.
- For infants, never leave them alone in a car or stroller, even for a minute.
- Choose caregivers, babysitters, childcare providers and nannies carefully and don’t forget to check their references. If you’ve arranged for someone to pick up your kids from school or day care, discuss the arrangements beforehand with your kids and with the school or childcare center.
- Avoid dressing your kids in clothing with their names on it children tend to trust adults who know their names.
Talking to Kids about Strangers
Talk to your kids often about safety. Give them the basics on how to avoid and escape potentially dangerous situations. Teach them to:
- Never accept candy or gifts from a stranger.
- Never go anywhere with a stranger, even if it sounds like fun. Predators can lure kids with questions like “Can you help me find my lost puppy?” or “Do you want to see something cute in my car?” Remind your kids that they should never interact with the adults whom they are not acquainted and they should ignore if the strangers ask them to do something for them.
- Tell your kids to run away and scream, if someone follows them or tries to force them into a car or other vehicle.
- Educate you kids in good and bad touch. Tell them to say no to anyone who tries to make them do something you’ve said is wrong or touch them in a way that makes them feel uncomfortable.
- Instruct them to always tell you or another trusted adult if a stranger asks personal questions, unclothes him or herself, or otherwise makes them feel uneasy with their gestures. Reassure kids that it’s OK to tell you even if the person made them promise not to tell about this to anybody or threatened them in some way.
- Tell them to always ask for your permission before leaving the house for seeing a friend, yard, or playground. You should be fully aware of their whereabouts.
Keep these other tips in mind, too:
- Make sure younger kids should know their names and address. Now days, nobody memorizes the phone numbers as they are fed in the mobile phones. Make sure that the child knows few phone numbers by heart that they could call in case of an emergency. Review how to use 100 or a local emergency number.
- Discuss what to do if they get lost in a public place. Remind them that they should never go to the parking lot to look for you. Instruct kids to ask a cashier for help or stand near the registers or front of the building away from the doors.
- Point out the homes of friends around the neighborhood where your kids can go in case of trouble.
- If in emergency you are out for something, make sure that your kids know with whom they may go or ride in and whom they may not.
- Develop code words for caregivers other than mom or dad, and remind your kids never to tell anyone the code word. Teach them not to ride with anyone they don’t know or with anyone who doesn’t know the code word.
- If your kids are old enough to stay home alone, make sure they keep the door locked and do not answers the doorbell to anyone except you.