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Missing Children SA has given us these invaluable safety tips. You can also download this (tips_for_parents.pdf), print it out and stick to your fridge:
- Know where you children are at all times, with whom they are and always make a mental note of what your child is wearing.
- Always keep a recent photograph of your child in your wallet or on your cell phone.
- Know the names, addresses and numbers of all your child's friends. Be cautious of every friend they make and make an effort getting to know your child's friends.
- Be involved in your child's life. Build a trusting relationship, but do not overdo it. Spend quality time with your children. Make your house a place where your child wants to be and also where hy or she wants to bring their friends to. This way you will have your child right under your nose (most of the time) and your child will feel confident to share information with you.
- Teach your children their own names and addresses as well as your name and telephone number.
- Keep your children (especially the small ones) close to home and teach all your children to NEVER WALK ALONE, but always take a friend with them (we call that the Buddy Bear system). Never ever send your child to the shop or anywhere else alone.
- Get ID bracelets or other means of identification with your phone number on it. If you do not have an ID bracelet or something similar, when you go out to public places, make sure to write your telephone number on your child's arm or somewhere visible.
- Take your children to the nearest police station/hospital/clinic and show them how to get there. Point out the landmarks to prevent them from getting lost. Teach them to take the same route to and from places (school, shopping centres, friends' houses). this way when your child is missing, you can start looking on the discussed route.
- Teach your children to make loud noises and to scream in order to attract attention when they are in trouble.
- Back to basics: teach them that they should not trust a stranger, should not accept anything from strangers or go anywhere with a stranger. Get a CODE WORD, and when your child is approached by the stranger and the stranger does not know the code word, the child should know not to trust the person.
- Parents who allow their children to have MxIT or Facebook profiles, get a way to monitor it. Know who your child is talking to, show you are interested, familiarise yourself with the technology, the networks, slang language and always be one step ahead.
- Teach your children the important numbers for:
Police: 10111
Cellphone help: 112
Missing Children SA: 072 MISSING
SAPS Crimestop: 08600 10111
Childline: 08000 55 555
- Mr Price has announced that for the duration of the World Cup, every store will be a "safe place". Should your child get lost in a shopping centre, all he or she needs to do is find a Mr Price store, where trained officials will look after them and try to locate you. To read more, download the flyer: mr_price_safe_place.pdf
- For name wristbands, "Mommy I'm here" beepers and other child locaters and safety devices, visit www.4akid.co.za
