Street-Proofing Children

Kidnapping by strangers is very rare, accounting for less than 1% of missing children cases, according to the RCMP. Still, we should all take sensible precautions:



Never leave a young child alone in a public place – not even for just a minute.

Don’t put their name on their clothing. A stranger can use it to gain their trust.

Go along when a young child uses a public washroom, even if they protest.

Never assume there’s someone else watching out for your child. Always know where they are and who’s looking after them.

And, in case the worst happens, keep an up-to-date photo (no more than six months old) with your child’s height, weight, eye and hair colour on the back, along with a description of any birth marks.

There are also a number of things you can teach your child to help them deal safely with strangers on their own:

As soon as they’re old enough, teach them their name, address, phone number and parents’ names.

Teach them to shout, “You’re not my mother!” or “You’re not my father!” if someone tries to take them away.

Teach them to go to a sales clerk if they’re separated from you in a store.

Teach them to go to a police officer if they’re in trouble and one is nearby. Never frighten your child by threatening to call the police if they do something wrong.

Give your child a code word for emergencies. That way, a stranger who doesn’t know the word won’t get far, even if they say something like, “Come with me to the hospital; your father has been hurt.”

Teach your child to say “no” firmly. Practice shouting it with them. Give them permission to scream it if they’re in trouble.

https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/public-safety/protecting-children/keeping-kids-safe