In most cases, the child has simply wandered off somewhere, been delayed en route when taking school or public transportation, or - in the case of an after-school disappearance - gone home with a friend. In the case of the older teen, he or she may have “run away” to stay with a friend, but remains safe.

Of course, the fact we hear only the worst stories, does little to allay a loving parent’s fears.

A Few Simple Rules...

Teaching your child a few simple rules will help her to develop the street smarts needed to recognize “stranger danger.” For example, never talk to a stranger who claims he has puppies, kittens or free candies in his car or van, or needs help looking for a “lost pet.” Free candies and lost pets are favourite topics for warm up conversation used by child molesters and abductors. Make sure your child understands that responsible adults ask other adults, not children, for help.

Other rules include:

• Agreeing on a secret password. Let your child know that if you ever ask a friend or relative to pick her up, that this person will know the password and be able to tell the child what it is. Make sure your child understands that he/she must never divulge the password.
• Telling your child never to give his name or address to, or accept gifts from, people he does not know. This also applies to the Internet, where molesters lurk in chat rooms.
• Making sure your son or daughter walks to school with friends. Children should stay on the main sidewalks and not take shortcuts through woods, alleys or empty lots.
• Ensuring your child knows what to do if he misses the bus. The best plans are to return home or to a neighbour’s house or, if at school, to report to a teacher. Reinforce that he should never accept a ride home or to school from a stranger.
• Explaining to your son or daughter that he or she must obtain your permission before going home with friends or attending a school function.

It is also important to make sure that the parents of your child’s friends know to call you if your child turns up after school, or during the day, to play or do homework. (Often, a child will not let her parents know of her plans, and the worried parent panics when the child fails to return home.) Parents who are new to the area or to your social/school group should also be made aware of this common-sense courtesy.

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