| The world is a dangerous place; it is NOT the | | | | your child inappropriately does your child |
| same place where we grew up. Here are some | | | | know that she should speak up and speak up |
| chilling facts: | | | | loudly? Is your child comfortable speaking |
| | | | with you? |
| - If you live in the suburbs, a pedophile or | | | | |
| registered sex offender probably lives within | | | | - Does your child know that you would rather |
| one mile of your family. If you live in an | | | | have an embarrassing misunderstanding with an |
| urban environment, the pedophile lives much | | | | adult than have your child feel uncomfortable |
| closer. There is a high probability that a | | | | around that adult? Parents would rather hear, |
| pedophile is within one mile of your child at | | | | "Get away from me you creep!" than "I let him |
| all times. | | | | touch me because I was being polite and I |
| | | | didn't want to offend him." |
| - One in three women and one in four men will | | | | |
| become the victim of violent crime in his or | | | | - If your child is separated from you does |
| her lifetime. | | | | she know to immediately latch on to the |
| | | | nearest mother with children and ask for |
| - 73% of violent crime occurs within five | | | | help? |
| miles of the victim's home. | | | | |
| | | | Teach your kids street smarts, and how to |
| - A robbery occurs every 59 seconds. | | | | remain alert and tuned-in to their |
| | | | surroundings. |
| - A rape occurs every six minutes. | | | | |
| | | | Don't be in denial. Thirty years ago it was |
| - One out of every 100 households will have | | | | safe to walk home from school, to the local |
| an automobile stolen and 2% of them will be | | | | YMCA or to a friend's house. It was safe for |
| by carjacking. | | | | four-year olds to play in the yard or ride a |
| | | | bike down the side walk. |
| - More than 35,000 children are forcibly | | | | |
| abducted each year. | | | | Not today. |
| | | | |
| - One in 12 women is stalked at some time in | | | | Preparing children for what they will |
| her life. Last year, nearly 1,007,000 women | | | | hopefully never encounter is a gift. There |
| were stalked. | | | | are simple ways to empower children and give |
| | | | them the tools they need to stay safe. A |
| - 80% of all restraining orders attained | | | | family's best line of defense is education. |
| against stalkers are violated. | | | | |
| | | | Purchasing a family self-defense kit is a way |
| Given these statistics it is critical that we | | | | for the whole family to learn basic |
| safeguard our children and families against | | | | self-defense together. Enrolling your kids in |
| harm. From an early age children of course | | | | a martial arts school further teaches |
| need to be taught basic safety information | | | | survival skills and builds self-confidence; |
| such as their full name, address, phone | | | | most martial arts instructors are very |
| number and parent cell phone. They also need | | | | careful not to give children a false sense of |
| some information that parents twenty years | | | | security. Instructors instead stress the |
| ago did not need. | | | | message that children can't overpower adults, |
| | | | but can make a scene and get the attention of |
| Most parents have not earned a black belt; | | | | adults nearby. |
| even fewer are martial arts instructors. | | | | |
| Parents still have an obligation to prepare | | | | Establish an on-going dialogue with your |
| their children to face the potential dangers | | | | children about safety. Let your children |
| that lurk outside of the home, and that are | | | | practice yelling, "NO!" Give your children a |
| creeping into the home via the internet. | | | | voice. Create an atmosphere of trust that |
| | | | allows children to come to you if they are |
| Parents must know the basics of self-defense | | | | feeling uncomfortable. Be your child's |
| and how to teach self-defense to children. | | | | advocate, this means keeping your eyes and |
| Kids should learn the "red flags" that | | | | ears open to possible dangerous situations. |
| signify an inappropriate conversation or a | | | | Face uncomfortable situations head-on, |
| potentially dangerous encounter. | | | | without shame and make sure to use clear |
| | | | language. |
| - For example, have you told your child that | | | | |
| adults never ask children for help? If an | | | | Listen to your inner voice; it alerts you |
| adult asks your child for help, she needs to | | | | when you face a potentially threatening |
| know that is a warning to run away. | | | | situation. Time and time again when people |
| | | | are interviewed after an encounter with a |
| - Does your child know how to make a scene? | | | | predator they say that they knew something |
| Have you taught her to yell and scream, kick, | | | | was wrong, if only they had listened to that |
| scratch, bite, and strike at the body's | | | | little voice saying, "Get away!" If a coach, |
| vulnerable spots? | | | | neighbor, teacher, family member etc. seems |
| | | | creepy, LISTEN!!!!! |
| - Have you assured her that you will not get | | | | |
| mad at her if she yells, "Get away from me!", | | | | The message here is not to live in terror, |
| if she feels threatened by a stranger? | | | | worrying that every stranger is a predator |
| | | | and that danger lurks around every corner. |
| - Is your child aware that other children can | | | | Parents certainly do not want to rob their |
| be predators? Child on child molestation is | | | | children of their innocence or give them free |
| one the most common forms of molestation. | | | | floating anxiety. The point is that by |
| Children who have been abused by an adult | | | | equipping the family with knowledge and |
| will often go from victim to abuser. | | | | teaching the skills necessary to assess and |
| | | | react appropriately to danger, families take |
| - Does your child know how to listen to that | | | | back their power. Giving children a voice and |
| inner voice that says something is amiss, and | | | | some skills stacks the deck in their favor. |
| get away quickly? | | | | The knowledge that children are prepared in |
| | | | turn gives parents piece of mind. |
| - If a family member or family friend touches | | | | |