Here at the AMW Safety Center, we’ve talked a lot about the dangers of kids getting lost in crowds, and how important it is to keep close tabs on your child when you’re out in public places. During the holiday season, you need to be even more careful than usual, because shops and streets are extra-crowded. But with family visits and holiday parties, it’s possible for kids to come into contact with strangers even in your own home, or the homes of relatives or friends.
How can you help protect you child from possible danger in these situations? Julie Clark, who’s John Walsh’s partner in “The Safe Side” series of safety videos, teaches kids and parents how to recognize dangerous situations, how to make the right decisions at the right time, how to trust their instincts, and when to say “no.” Here are some of Julie’s tips for kids and parents during the holidays – ideas that you should keep in mind all year long:
- In a crowded store or on a crowded street, never physically let go of young children.
- Never let your child out of your sight. Remind them: “If you can’t see me, I can’t see you.”
- Use every trip to the store as a chance to talk to your kids about safety. For example, point out the kind of person they should go to if they get lost, such as a store employee or a uniformed security guard.
- Make sure your kids know that if they do get lost, they should stay in the general area where they last saw you.
- Encourage your child to trust their instincts. Teach them that if a situation feels uncomfortable, they should come and tell you.
The holiday season is a fun time for the whole family, but it’s also a time when you need to make sure your kids know how to stay safe. Check out the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) website for more tips on holiday safety.
9 Comments on "Holiday Safety Tips With The Safe Side’s Julie Clark"
miclele mardis
wow thank you thank you I now 47 a woman a person who was abused/rape you name it was me .far back maybe 6/7yrs old the abuse. your talk tonight so greatful to hear you and John and all @ amw.. the people walked why so many walk cause your family doesn’t care but thank God you care i care if any I can/could done to help childern please let me know
thankful here please keep getting that message out please
Bob & Brenda Ison
On Saturday night (12/15/07) Julie Clark mentioned for children to look for a motherly person if they got lost. Please reevaluate this message. Woman, as well as men can be perverts.
kim m
i disagree with julie telling the child in the house to not trust strangers and the child goes for pumkin pie instead of telling an adult that she felt scared by the stranger who came to her while she was alone. my dad caught a cousin molesting me and told me to stay away from him. when in my 30’s the women of the family said they never knew and if i had yelled out they would have come to my rescue instead of a five year old left to carry the guilt that dad did not protect her and why would other family
members care about her either? so if the stranger is being friendly or up to know good the child should tell a trusted adult who will confront the stanger and the situation no matter what kind of hard feelings come out of it.
Kelly M. Bray
I agree with Bob and Brenda Ison. Julie mentioned finding mother with children, a father with children is just as good. Like me, school volunteer, scout leader, and all around good father. Enough of the negative male stereotypes
LMA
Where can we watch a video of this piece?
Thanks!
shelbyclutter
hi i enjoy wacthing ur show it realy helps me
TC
I would like to know where in archives this segment can be viewed as well (especially since it’s the holiday season). Thanks!
Marie
I have a one and a half year old daughter and i am always paranoid when i go out w/ her because of all of the missing children cases.i wish that the child abductors would all just die horrible deaths and we could stop living in constant fear for our kids.
cascade
Dear people:
i was raised to believe that the woman where the children raisers(trustworthy) All men were aweful at raising kids, plus that would mean that woman could not do everything.! The Lord has shown me otherwise lately, Even to the point of play dates? If I’m good enough with MY child raising skills……COOL!!! Women.. do abuse, at times worse than any man, how horrible to think that a woman could abuse life that came from, but also lived in her womb. Cheers to the good Fathers out there!
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