How to Protect Children From Kidnapping and
How to Teach Stranger Safety Skills
Teaching children about “stranger danger” does not protect them from kidnapping and can make them fearful without making them safer. Kidpower offers simple and effective ways of teaching children how to protect themselves that will keep them safe most of the time both with strangers and with people they know.
Young people are at risk of assault, abduction, and abuse even in caring families, schools, and communities. Prevention is the key to protecting children’s personal safety. The good news is that there are simple and effective ways of teaching children how to protect themselves that will work most of the time.
Just telling children about safety or just showing children what to do is not enough. When we just talk to children about danger, their raised awareness can actually raise their level of anxiety. Young people learn best by actively participating. Practicing children’s personal safety skills increases their confidence and competence. It is important to do this in a way that is not scary, but is fun. Scroll down for articles, videos, podcasts, publications, and workshops that show how to protect children from kidnapping and teach them to be safe with strangers.
"A man jumped out of the bushes at my nine-year-old daughter, who was rollerblading to school, and ordered her to come with him. If she had not had your training, I think she would have collapsed and cried. Instead, she shouted, “NO!” and rollerbladed all the way to safety, which was her teacher at school."
Featured Articles
Here’s a sampling of different articles addressing many aspects of preventing kidnapping and being safe with strangers.
Kidpower Response to the Tracy Kidnapping Tragedy
Videos
Podcasts
Publications
Our store offers a number of publications showing how to teach children to be safe without being upsetting. We have cartoon-illustrated Safety Comics that adults can read with their children, Teaching Kits for teaching skills to groups, our Kidpower Guide for Parents and Teachers e-book, and Training Manuals.
Workshops - Hands-on Learning Experiences
to Develop Skills That Can Prevent Most Kidnapping
Kidpower offers workshops and resources that prepare our students to protect themselves from potentially harmful experiences with people, including kidnapping. We serve children, teens, and adults, including seniors and people with special needs. We work with schools and other organizations to arrange workshops that are specifically tailored to the needs of each group and individual.
If there is no Kidpower Center near you, we have publications for sale in our store that adults can use to teach kids how to stay safe and act wisely to prevent child abuse.