Raising Street Smart Kids

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Raising  street smart kids is important to keep them safe from abduction and other types of victimization.  Here are some rules and resources to help you accomplish this.

  • If you reach this page looking for information looking for street hazards, see our Street Safety area for kids.

Teaching Children to be Street Smart

There are several ways that children can increase their safety when they are out and about in their neighborhood. Teach children these basic rules for being street smart, and make sure that you check with your children to ensure that these rules are being followed as much as possible. On a regular basis, ask who your child played with, who they walked with, which route they took, etc. Safety starts with parents who press the issue.

  • If your believe in Free-Range parenting try to institute a buddy system at all times. Teach your kids to always go with another friend or adult whenever they are out and about. There is safety in numbers, and it is always more difficult for a potential abductor to target two children as opposed to one. Rarely does this happen. They will go after a child who is all alone, so that they can snatch them quickly without any witnesses.
  • Tell them to stay out in the open. Avoid going places where nobody else can see you. People sometimes look for kids in places where the child can’t be seen easily.
  • Children need to pay attention to their surroundings. Keep an eye out for everything around you. Cars that go by, people that are out and about, etc. If you see anything that looks suspicious, stay away from it.
  • If they walk to school, always direct them to walk along the same route. Discuss with them the best route to school, and always stay on that route, so that people know where to look in case you are missing.

Resources for Children:

Read your kids our children’s online eBook story:
How to be a Street Smart Kid, Designed for children in elementary school.

 

 

 

 

See also:


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