Child abduction prevention is on the minds many parents, and
Morgan Hill is no exceptional.
Child abduction prevention is on the minds many parents, and Morgan Hill is no exceptional.
Keeping children safe is paramount and the key to prevention is establishing rules, says Lisa DeSilva at Community Solutions in Morgan Hill.
“Make sure they’re clear on the rules,” said DeSilva. “Have emergency plans in place and do ‘what if’ drills with your kids. Now is a perfect time to go over the rules with your kids.”
DeSilva emphasizes that children must be clear who is a stranger. Even though a person may appear to be harmless, she says that anyone could be potentially dangerous.
“Children don’t think a stranger is bad if they look nice,” she said. “Parents must emphasize that strangers are people we don’t know and never give personal information to people we don’t know.”
DeSilva says that parents must be careful not to set a double standard. They may do things that seem innocent but can confuse a child. When parents are with their children, they must set an example for children.
“We contradict ourselves,” said DeSilva. “Even in the supermarket when we talk to someone, our children will call us out on it. We have to give them clear rules to follow.”
While informing children how to be safe is key in child prevention, parents must also take an active role in their kids’ lives.
Lori Escobar of the El Toro Youth Center emphasizes that knowing where and who children are with will help prevent abductions.
“If you are going to leave your kid with someone, ask questions,” says Escobar. “Who will be there? Who will they sleep with? Will they ever be left alone?”
Escobar says that parents can’t be too careful with who they leave their children with. According to her, parents must not leave a child anywhere if they are unfamiliar with the people or the environment.
“If you don’t know the people, what their business is, what their area is like, then don’t leave your kids with them,” she strongly stated.
Despite all the precautions taken, our children are not completely safe. DeSilva concedes that there are times where abductions are unavoidable. In those cases the being calm will help the child.
“I tell my girls, if they are in that situation to say to themselves ‘I will not panic,’” said DeSilva.
Children who go home alone, must understand the rules to keep them safe.
According to DeSilva, doors must be locked while the child is home.
“Children must know that doors should be locked in the day, not just at night,” said DeSilva. “And make sure they know what to do if someone calls and asks for mom or dad when they’re not home.”
“You can’t guarantee that your kid will be 100 percent safe,” says Escobar. “But watch your kids. Most of the time, someone will watch a child before they abduct them. If they see that they are watched, they’ll move on.”
DeSilva says danger does not only come from strangers. Most of the child abuse cases come from those who know the child.
The El Toro Youth Center offers workshops on how to keep children safe. There are workshops for both kids and parents. Details: call the youth center at 779-6002.
