Child Find Alberta - Safeguarding

Educational Resources - Safeguarding Your Children

Teach your children the precautions – but avoid paranoia. It is never too early to start. Choose a time when the child is in a receptive mood.

Teach Your Children . . .

Their name, age, telephone number, area code, address, city, and province.
To carry identification.
How to phone long distance by dialing direct or with operator assistance.
How to reach you in an emergency. How to reach police, fire, ambulance, doctor, relatives, and neighbors.
To carry enough money to make a phone call.
To tell you where they will be at all times.
Never to say they are alone if they answer the phone.
Not to answer the door if they are alone.
Never to invite people they don’t know into their home.
Not to enter anyone’s home without your permission.
Not to accept gifts from strangers.
Never to approach or enter a stranger’s car.
Never to hitchhike.
That they have your permission to say “no” to an adult, especially if that person wants them to do something you’ve taught them is wrong.
That no one has the right to touch any part of their body – especially where a bathing suit would cover.
To tell you if someone has asked them to keep a secret from you.
To scatter their books and belongings if they are forced towards a building or car.
Never to play in deserted buildings or isolated areas.
Never to take shortcuts through empty parks or fields.
About the Block Parent Program and logo.
That if they are being followed, they should run home or go to the nearest public place and yell for help.
That if they become separated from you at a grocery store or shopping mall, to go directly to a cashier or checkout counter clerk.
To travel in groups or with a buddy.
That adults rarely ask a child for help.
To report to you, school authorities, or a police officer, anyone who exposes private parts.
To recognize suspicious behavior and remember a description of the person or vehicle to give to you or the police. Advise them to write the plate number in the dirt or snow if nothing else is available.
Never to show their money, and if they are attacked for it, to give it up rather than risk injury.
That police officers are their friends and that they can rely on them if they are in trouble.
That they can talk to you and that you are interested and sensitive to their fears.

Parents Need . . .

To provide school or daycare centre the names of persons to whom your child may be released. Also inform the school or daycare centre who to notify in the event that the child does not arrive at school.
To look carefully at your child's clothing each day.
To keep a current colour photograph of your child, updated yearly (more often for younger children).
To keep a medical and dental history of your child's blood type, medical problems, scars, broken bones, pulled teeth, braces, glasses, medication, allergies, etc.
To have your child fingerprinted and keep the prints with other pertinent information.
To avoid clothing and toys with child's name. This is important because children are less likely to be fearful of someone who knows their name.
To check all potential babysitters and older friends of your child.
To never leave your child alone in a public place, stroller, or car.
To always accompany children to the bathroom in a public place, and advise them never to loiter in or around the area.
To always accompany your child on door-to-door activities, i.e., Halloween, school fundraising campaigns.
To make a list of important names, telephone numbers and addresses and place these where they are easily accessible to the child at home, preferably near the telephone.