A
McGruff House is a reliable source of help for children in emergency
or frightening situations. Volunteers must meet specific standards,
including a law enforcement records check.
Programs
are established locally as a partnership among law enforcement,
schools, and community organizations. For information call 801-486-8768.
For
more information on Children's Safety, click
here.
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WOULD
YOUR CHILD KNOW WHAT TO DO IF -
-
He
got lost at a shopping mall?
-
A
nice-looking, friendly stranger offered her a ride home after
school?
-
A
friend dared him to drink some beer or smoke a joint?
-
The
babysitter or a neighbor wanted to play a secret game?
A
great thing about kids is their natural trust in people, especially
in adults. It's sometimes hard for parents to teach children to
balance this trust with caution. But kids today need to know commonsense
rules that can help keep them safe - and build the self confidence
they need to handle emergencies..
START
WITH THE BASICS
-
Make sure your children know their full name, address (city and
state), and phone number with area code.
-
Be
sure kids know to call 9-1-1 or "0" in emergencies and
how to use a public phone. Practice making emergency calls with
a make-believe phone.
-
Tell
them never to accept rides or gifts from someone they and you
don't know well.
-
Teach
children to go to a store clerk, security guard, or police officer
for help if lost in a mall or store or on the street.
-
Set
a good example with your own actions - lock doors and windows
and see who's there before opening the door.
-
Take
time to listen carefully to your children's fears and feelings
about people or places that scare them or make them feel uneasy.
Tell them to trust their instincts.
AT
SCHOOL AND PLAY....
-
Encourage
your children to walk and play with friends, not alone. Tell them
to avoid places that could be dangerous - vacant buildings, alleys,
playgrounds or parks with broken equipment and litter.
-
Teach
children to settle arguments with words, not fists, and to walk
away when others are arguing. Remind them that taunting and teasing
can hurt friends and make enemies.
-
Make
sure your children are taking the safest routes to and from school,
stores, and friends' houses. Walk the routes together and point
out places they could go for help.
-
Encourage
kids to be alert in the neighborhood, and tell an adult - you,
a teacher, a neighbor, a police officer - about anything they
see that doesn't seem quite right.
-
Check
out the school's policies on absent children - are parents called
when a child is absent?
-
Check
out daycare and after-school programs - look at certifications,
staff qualifications, rules on parent permission for field trips,
reputation in the community, parent participation, and policies
on parent visits.
-
Check
babysitter references.
AT HOME ALONE
- Leave
a phone number where you can be reached. Post it by the phone,
along with numbers for a neighbor and emergencies - police and
fire departments, paramedics, and the poison control center.
- Have
your child check in with you or a neighbor when he or she gets
home. Agree on rules for having friends over and going to a friend's
house when no adult is home.
- Make
sure your child knows how to use the window and door locks.
- Tell
your child not to let anyone into the home without your permission,
and never to let a caller at the door or on the phone know there's
no adult home. Kids can always say their parents are busy and
take a message.
- Work
out an escape plan in case of fire or other emergencies. Rehearse
with your children.
PROTECTING
YOUR CHILD AGAINST
SEXUAL ABUSE
- Let
your child know that he or she can tell you anything, and that
you'll be supportive.
- Teach
your child that no-one - not even a teacher or a close relative
- has the right to touch him or her in a way that feels uncomfortable,
and that it's okay to say no, get away, and tell a trusted adult.
- Don't
force kids to kiss or hug or sit on a grown-up's lap if they don't
want to. This gives them control and teaches them that they have
the right to refuse.
- Always
know where your child is and who he or she is with.
- Tell
your child to stay away from strangers who hang around playgrounds,
public restrooms, and schools.
- Be
alert for changes in your child's behavior that could signal sexual
abuse such as sudden secretiveness, withdrawal from activities,
refusal to go to school, unexplained hostility toward a favorite
babysitter or relative, or increased anxiety. Some physical signs
of abuse include bedwetting, loss of appetite, venereal disease,
nightmares, and complaints of pain or irritation around the genitals.
- If
your child has been sexually abused, report it to the police or
a child protection agency immediately.
If
your child is a victim of any crime, from stolen lunch money to
sexual abuse, don't blame him or her. Listen and offer sympathy.
TAKE
A STAND
-
Work
with schools and recreation centers to offer study time, activities,
tutoring, and recreation before and after school.
-
Start
a school callback program. When a student - elementary, middle
or high school age - doesn't arrive as scheduled, volunteers at
the school call the parents to make sure the absence is excused.
-
Volunteer
to help with a McGruff House or other block parent program. If
you can't offer your home has a haven for children in emergencies,
you can help in other ways - telephoning, fundraising, or public
relations.
1700
K Street, NW, Second Floor
Washington DC, 20006-3817
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