School Events-Child Predators Are There-Know The Dangers
I just spent the last 5 hours at a wrestling meet for my oldest son and wow , there are alot of people there! People are everywhere, getting snacks, moving from spot to spot so they can see their child on the mat and little kids running all over the place. There were only four schools at this particular meet so the number of people was actually less than a usual meet.
While I was out in the hallway of the school getting a drink of water, I noticed a small boy about 3 years old just wandering the hallway. I found myself doing what I do in the mall or anywhere I see a small child alone, hovering. I never approach a child unless they are crying but I "hover" to make sure someone is around or shows up eventually to claim the child. I cannot walk away from a small child who appears to be alone. There have been times when the child is crying and I wait with them until their parent arrives.
If I am in a store, I know that somewhere there is a parent looking for that child and it does not usually take very long for them to show up. I really get nervous when I am at an event such as a wrestling meet and I know the parents are preoccupied with a sibling and do not realize either that this child is out of sight or they think that it is ok for the child to wander.
*****BE PROACTIVE WITH YOUR CHILD'S SAFETY...PLEASE UNDERSTAND THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION!*****
It is important for parents and grandparents to understand that school events are very public events, they are publicized with the sport, age groups and names of the schools attending. They are prime areas for child predators to frequent; these predators can come and go as they please; they pose as friends and relatives and blend right in with the crowd. They look like NORMAL people; they do not look dangerous. Sporting events, this wrestling meet for example, can last all day, football games are outside in the dark, and basketball games are very crowded; you get the idea. Sporting events can be the most dangerous for kids because of the personalized sporting equipment and clothing that kids wear. If you can, have the first initial and last name printed on such items so the child predators are not able to pretend they know your child by using their name.
People who target children know that parents are not able to watch their small children while watching their older child participating in a sport activity. In the video tape "Strong Kids Against Crime" it was reported that a man at a soccer game approached a little girl. The police looked at all the home videos that parents had taken that day to try to identify who the man was and they were horrified to see that there were four other convicted child molesters on parole in the park that same day!
I know, I am one of those parents who have tried to give my oldest son my total attention while trying to watch two smaller children, an impossible task. Children get restless, they get hungry, and they have to use the restroom. Whatever the reason, parents allow their children to run under the bleachers, go out in the hallways (right by the doors!), go out to buy snacks, go to the restroom alone or just to run around...these children are prime victims.
Please watch your children, teach them to stay with you or have siblings go together, and have them check in with you frequently. You are only human and it is hard to give all your children your attention at the same time. We parents with multi age kids understand the guilt that goes along with missing one of our childrens events because we are watching the smaller ones but you need to stay alert for when your "little one" wanders too far away.
I like to always remind parents to please carry your child's ID card with you at all times (if you do not carry your purse, then put them in your pocket). In the dreaded event that your child becomes missing, you must have their information available at a moments notice for the authorities so you are not wasting valuable time having to run home for a photo.
When you have children, you know that there are many school functions to attend and want to enjoy these times with your family. Teaching your children to be safety conscious, you staying alert while enjoying the festivities and being aware of the new technology available for parents to help in this task, will make these events a good memory for your whole family.
Related Tags: kids, child safety, schools, child predators, child molesters
Marjorie Hatton has three children and writes on topics of child safety, offering information and tips to assist parents in finding different ways to protect their children. http://www.howtoprotectyourchildren.com
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