Very often, parents tend to associate abductions with strangers. This invokes images of shady, and shabby characters lurking in dark corners and snatching up unsuspecting children and whisking them away. But the truth is that stranger abduction, while the most highly publicized, is actually the least common form of abduction. Someone with whom the child is already familiar commits most so-called "stranger" abductions.

Stranger may be someone you, your family, or your child sees and interacts with regularly. It is this familiarity that enables the abductor to gain a child's trust.

Therefore, it is critical that parents not only teach their child to stay away from strangers, but to recognize dangerous situations and be armed with effective responses to those situations.

The most effective tool in protecting and street-proofing your child is good communication. All too often, parents avoid discussing the dangers of abduction with their children because of several factors such as:·

• They are uncomfortable with the subject matter.·
• They do not want to scare the child.·
• They do not have a clear understanding of what the child

Let's face the reality. These dangers do exist, and they can happen to any child. Teaching your child how to avoid abduction should be approached in the same way as teaching your child to avoid getting hit by a car when crossing the street. There are rules the child should follow to stay safe. If the rules aren't followed the child could get hurt. Initially, you and your child should practice implementing these rules together, until your child understands them well enough to apply them in varying situations. Once you are confident that your child has the ability to utilize these skills on their own, you allow them the freedom to be on their own.