How can we teach our children to avoid being lured away or kidnapped?

Ho Chi Minh City police return two kidnapped children to their mother - Photo: DAN THUAN

What to do when a stranger offers you a gift? How to maintain distance to avoid being kidnapped?... These are things parents should keep in mind when teaching their children.

Teach children to be vigilant in public places.

Ms. Tran Thi Que Chi, Deputy Director of the Institute of Educational Science and Training in Ho Chi Minh City, noted: "Parents must proactively teach children skills to prevent and avoid being kidnapped so that this becomes a life skill for them."

Ms. Tran Thi Que Chi - Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Institute of Educational Science and Training - Photo: Provided by the interviewee.

According to Ms. Chi, in order to teach children these skills, parents need to understand the tactics and types of people who may become child kidnappers.

"The main tactic used by child kidnappers is to exploit children's innocence and their love of receiving gifts."

Child kidnappers can be strangers, relatives, or acquaintances. The motives for kidnapping children are often extortion, selling them to others, or trafficking them abroad.

Kidnappers can target children while they are playing at supermarkets, playgrounds, parks, schools, etc.," Ms. Chi said.
She emphasized that parents need to teach children such knowledge and regularly remind them to be vigilant about the possibility of becoming targets for kidnappers when they are not around, especially in public places.

8 things to remember to avoid being kidnapped.

According to Ms. Chi, children need to be taught the following eight things so they can protect themselves when there are no adults around. Specifically:

1. Don't strike up conversations with strangers.

2. Do not accept gifts from strangers or other people without the permission of an adult.

3. It is necessary to maintain a safe distance from strangers, within which the child can run away or shout for help.

4. Do not follow other people without the permission of your parents or guardians.

5. When at home, children should not allow strangers or other people into the house without the permission of an adult in the family.

6. Do not talk to or connect with strangers online without permission. Children should immediately report to their parents or guardians if a stranger tries to connect with them online.

7. Seek help from those around you and shout when you feel in danger. If the danger is imminent and you cannot shout, you can seek help in other ways, such as using signs or deliberate actions to let those around you know that you are in danger.

8. Remember the name and phone number of your father, mother, or guardian.

Mastering these skills is the best way to protect children from kidnappers.

Ms. Tran Thi Que Chi noted that numerous child abduction cases highlight the importance of teaching children skills to prevent the risk of abduction. Children possessing these skills is the best way to ensure their safety when they participate in various environments and social communities.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/day-con-the-nao-de-tranh-bi-du-do-bat-coc-20240409142237727.htm