Andrea E.: I have 2 kids Ages 3 1/2 and 18 months, and next year my oldest is starting school. But I am a little afraid to send her to school because my estranged sister, who is mentally ill, has tried in the past to kidnap my children in one way or another. So, how can I keep my child safe while she is at school and make sure my sister or anyone else can’t just walk off with my child?
JW: You’ve brought up a very important question Andrea. Even though people most often think of kidnapping by strangers, most abducted children are taken by a family member. The experts at the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) remind us that even a family abduction can have very devastating effects on a child. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to help prevent this from happening. The experts recommend talking to your kids every day and reassuring them that you love them. Make sure your kids know they can feel comfortable talking about their concerns, and don’t focus on your abduction fears. You should be prepared by keeping descriptive information about your children handy, such as recent photographs and video, fingerprints, medical & dental records. You should also keep the identifying details for your sister including social security number, license plate number, or any thing else you think might help law enforcement could track her down incase she does act. My best advice would be go to NCMEC’s website and check out the information they’ve got on family abductions, and inform your child’s school about this possible threat.
5 Comments on "How Can I Protect My Child From A Family Abduction?"
Andrea R
My daughter is starting Kindergarten this year and my husband and I are trying to teach her about Stranger Danger. Can anyone recommend a children’s video or book that we can use to make sure we are not focusing too much on our abduction fears? Thanks so much!!!
cascade
The schools in our district have locks and intercoms and plenty of video cameras everywhere. Ever since 9/11, security here has improved alot. Let the school office know your situation,provide pictures of your sister. With strick instructions of who can pick your child up and who can’t. Also showing the pictures to your child’s teacher will help as well. They will help you keep your child safe while at school:). Also, If for any reason you are delayed picking your child up from school. make sure they keep her in the office til you arrive.
Laurie
anything is possable you can find your kid’s
Brigitte
Your kids at least should tell you if someone has tried to take them. The same as when at my bus stop this car started to slow down at our bus stop.
I’m a child so i’ve had the same experience.
Lorie
i am in a similar situation. my ex mother in law has threatened repeatedly to kidnap my oldest son, and has even tried once in the local mall, without success, due to the child leash. my son is almost 5, and i STILL use this due to her threats. this is how i protect him when i am with him. when i am not with him, he is closely watched by one of two very trusted family members (my mom or dad). when he starts school i have put together a list of names and pictures of my ex husbands immediate family members, so that they know them when they see them. they will also have a list of who may and may not remove him from school, and if i am late picking him up, the prinicipal said that he can be kept in the office, which helps alot, beings they live near his school. there are several precautions you can use, i choose to use every one available to me. as a parent, we can try try try, but sometimes, something can happen. be sure to have a file for each child containing a recent picture, finger prints, hair sample and detailed decription.. these would come in very handy if anything were to happen. also, keep up with your sisters info as well. be sure you know her current address, phone numbers, even her neighbors if possible. i do this, and find alot of comfort in it.
best wishes
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