7 Personal Safety Tips You MUST Teach Your Kids

By Susan Martinez, Author & Black Belt

Copyright © 2010 Susan Martinez
 

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It’s nearly impossible for parents to imagine someone harming their child.  But it happens every day in every country in the world.

It happened to my child.  I am the mother of a 14-year-old girl that was abducted by a bad guy off her bike a block from home in a safe neighborhood.  This soulless child predator then drove her to a nearby park to rape her.

But things didn’t go down as he had planned.  Amber fought back with every fiber of her being and screamed for help.  She was so loud that a neighbor a block away heard her cries and ran to help her.  Then the big, bad predator got into his car and took off like the pathetic coward he truly was.

So how did Amber know what to do if she were ever grabbed?  I taught her ahead of time.  I told her about bad guys and how to avoid and outsmart them.  Today Amber is 35 years old and the mother of my two precious granddaughters.  She lived to tell and I am eternally grateful. 

Here are 7 tips you MUST teach your children to prepare them just in case they are ever in Harm’s Way.

1. Teach your kids that there are good and bad people in this world, both male and female. Good people act in nice, loving ways. Bad people act mean and violent and hurt kids and others. 

2. Teach your kids to avoid bad people and to tell on them (report their bad behavior) to a trusted adult. Help them to identify who the trusted adults are in their lives, like a parent, grandparent, teacher, etc.

3. Teach your kids from a very young age to call 911 to reach the police and other kid protectors. Let them practice calling on your home phone and your cell phone. Post 9-1-1 on your fridge with magnetic numbers to remind your kids of the importance of those three numbers.

4. Teach your kids why they MUST avoid all strangers. Strangers are people they don’t know or know very well.  Give them your permission not to be friendly to strangers. Tell them to NEVER go anywhere with a stranger or accept a gift from a stranger.

5. Teach them to never go outdoors alone or unsupervised, even in their own back yard. If they leave the house, they MUST always have a trusted adult with them.

6. Teach them what to do if they come in contact with a bad person. Yell for help. Yell words like "FIRE!" "HELP ME!" Run away. Fight back and do whatever you can to escape. Report the incident. Enroll your children in a self-defense class.  Please.  At the very least, have them practice yelling, running, kicking, punching, and trying to squirm out of your arms.

7. Teach your kids to help others if they witness something bad happening to another kid or to someone else. They can help by calling 911.  The world needs good citizens. 

Be safe out there!

About the Author

Susan Martinez is the author of 7 books, a second degree black belt in American Taekwondo, and a personal safety expert.  Her new eBook “Outsmarting the Bad Guys: A Personal Safety Guide for Women” is available now.  Official author web site: www.susanmartinez1.com.  Contact:  blackbelt@tjsusan.com.

 

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OUTSMARTING THE BAD GUYS:
A Personal Safety Guide for Women
Book Info

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