Child Abductions
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
The cases of attempted abduction and assault on children seem to be on the rise in this area.
Recently, there was an attempted abduction of a 13-year-old boy here in Warsaw. There was also one in the Bourbon earlier this year. Last month on several different occasions, a man attempted to lure Whitley County children into his car. This doesn't include the attempted assault on a 14-year-old girl in Mentone, the sexual assault of a 16-year-old girl in North Webster, or the numerous cases of sexual abuse that have been reported or those that have gone unreported. Unfortunately, as our communities grow, so does the occurrence of criminal activity.
Children need to be empowered with simple skills that are easy to learn, easy to remember, and easy to use should they find themselves in any unsafe situation. In regards to potential abductions, they should first be taught to trust their instincts; that weird feeling they get in their stomach when something just doesn't feel right. If any person or situation makes a child feel uncomfortable, he or she should be taught that it's OK to do whatever is necessary to get to safety. The child's immediate response to the unsafe situation should be to run, shout and get help.
Simple and non-violent physical skills should also be taught to children for those situations when running away isn't possible. These skills should be based on natural instinctive movements and void of the commonly taught punching and kicking techniques.
Parents should also avoid the common "stranger-danger" idea when teaching safety to children. Instead of looking out for strangers, children should be taught to look out for strange behavior. It's also a good idea to help them learn to recognize the lures often used by those that target children. Some common ones are: the lost puppy lure, the emergency lure and the candy lure. Parents can learn more about these lures or tricks by conducting a search on the Internet.
Another recommended strategy to keep children safe is to provide them with simple safety rules and tips. The "Check First" rule is a very important one that can negate the majority of lures, including those mentioned. Children should be taught to check first (with a parent) before going anywhere with anyone, even family members. They should also be taught to check first before taking anything from anyone.
Providing children with a basic safety education not only reduces their risk of abuse or abduction, it can increase their confidence and give them a heightened sense of accomplishment.
Steve Zorn
Warsaw, via e-mail
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The cases of attempted abduction and assault on children seem to be on the rise in this area.
Recently, there was an attempted abduction of a 13-year-old boy here in Warsaw. There was also one in the Bourbon earlier this year. Last month on several different occasions, a man attempted to lure Whitley County children into his car. This doesn't include the attempted assault on a 14-year-old girl in Mentone, the sexual assault of a 16-year-old girl in North Webster, or the numerous cases of sexual abuse that have been reported or those that have gone unreported. Unfortunately, as our communities grow, so does the occurrence of criminal activity.
Children need to be empowered with simple skills that are easy to learn, easy to remember, and easy to use should they find themselves in any unsafe situation. In regards to potential abductions, they should first be taught to trust their instincts; that weird feeling they get in their stomach when something just doesn't feel right. If any person or situation makes a child feel uncomfortable, he or she should be taught that it's OK to do whatever is necessary to get to safety. The child's immediate response to the unsafe situation should be to run, shout and get help.
Simple and non-violent physical skills should also be taught to children for those situations when running away isn't possible. These skills should be based on natural instinctive movements and void of the commonly taught punching and kicking techniques.
Parents should also avoid the common "stranger-danger" idea when teaching safety to children. Instead of looking out for strangers, children should be taught to look out for strange behavior. It's also a good idea to help them learn to recognize the lures often used by those that target children. Some common ones are: the lost puppy lure, the emergency lure and the candy lure. Parents can learn more about these lures or tricks by conducting a search on the Internet.
Another recommended strategy to keep children safe is to provide them with simple safety rules and tips. The "Check First" rule is a very important one that can negate the majority of lures, including those mentioned. Children should be taught to check first (with a parent) before going anywhere with anyone, even family members. They should also be taught to check first before taking anything from anyone.
Providing children with a basic safety education not only reduces their risk of abuse or abduction, it can increase their confidence and give them a heightened sense of accomplishment.
Steve Zorn
Warsaw, via e-mail
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