Parents

You can't be with your children and teens every moment. So, it is vital you teach them how to keep safe.

Your children must be taught to always ask your permission before going anywhere or accepting anything from an older person. And, they should also ask your permission before they help an adult. That means they are allowed to say "No!" to adults who interact with them when you are not present.

Strangers who call your child by name may catch them off guard; don't advertise your children's names on their clothes or belongings. Encourage your children to use the buddy system; they are at reduced risk when they are not alone.

Make time to communicate with your children and teens. Encourage them to speak with you about their experiences and feelings. Pay close attention if they talk about someone or something that has made them feel scared or uncomfortable. Their instincts can be quite accurate.

Helpful Links for Parents:
State Clearinghouses for Missing Children
Department of Justice Amber Alert Program
National Criminal FBI Investigate Crimes Against Children
Parents' Guide of Personal Safety for Children
National Sex Offender Registry
Be Crime Smart
A Pediatrician's Guide to Children's Health & Safety
National PTA

Children

There are a lot of rules to follow when you are just a kid. But did you know there are rules for adults, too?

Older people - who you don't know - should not need to ask you for anything.
Older people - who you don't know - should not give you anything.
Older people - who you don't know - should not take you anywhere.
If someone older than you, that you don't know breaks any of these rules, it's OK to say NO! And, talk to your Mom or Dad right away. Make sure you have their permission to do anything with the person.

In fact, if anybody makes you afraid, you should talk to your Mom or Dad. They'll listen to you. You are very important to your parents, and they want you to be safe and happy.

Fun and Helpful Links for Children:
FBI Safety Tips for Kids
McGruff the Crime Dog's Child Safety Center
Kids' Health

Teens

As you become more independent and move through the world on your own, it's up to you to stay safe.

If someone or something makes you feel scared or uncomfortable, be sure to talk about it with a parent or other trusted adult. Your instincts may be accurate.

Be savvy on the internet. Before sharing information and photos on social sites, make sure you're not accidentally providing details like uniforms, landmarks and street signs. Don't make it easy for untrustworthy or bad people to track you down. And, don't meet your online buddies in person.

Helpful Links for Teens:
FBI for Teens
Staying Safe on the Internet
Teens' Health

Law Enforcement

When a child is missing, overwhelming emotions can hinder parents' ability to gather identification information for Law Enforcement during the critical first hours.

With Missing Child Foundation, parents collect and securely store ID information on their children. If a crisis occurs, they can immediately share the relevant information with Law Enforcement Agencies. Besides biographical data, Missing Child Foundation provides a map of a child's favorite neighborhood locations including friends, schools, playgrounds, shopping malls, etc.

Helpful Links for Law Enforcement:
National Sheriff's Association
State Clearinghouses for Missing Children
FBI List of Kidnappings and Missing Persons
Department of Justice Amber Alert Program
National Criminal Justice Reference Service on Missing Children
Association of Missing Childrens Organizations
2007 Federal Resources on Missing Children