How kids should keep safe from predators

Article

Preschoolers, school age kids, and teenagers need protection from predators.

Key Points

A parent's worst nightmare is to have their child abducted, especially by a stranger. Yet a child is far more likely to be abducted by a family member (typically during a custody dispute), an acquaintance, or even a "friend" than by someone he or she doesn't know. Fortunately, kidnappings of any sort are quite uncommon. But their consequences can be so terrible-sexual assault and even death-that you surely want to do all you can to protect your child. The table below describes how to make your child a difficult target for kidnappers and sexual predators. Also consider putting together a child identification kit containing photos and information such as distinguishing physical characteristics and a fingerprint record. In the unlikely event that your child ever goes missing, you can give the police the kit.

Preschoolers should...

School-age children should...

Adapted from Schuman A, Contemp Pediatr 2005;22(3);36

Recent Videos
Jenna Marcovitz, MA explains how music therapy helps in pediatric care
Peter S. Jensen, MD
Suzanne Hollander, MS, RD, LDN, Senior Clinical Nutrition Specialist, Boston Children's Hospital | Image credit: Boston Children's
Joshua Feder, MD
Zika-based therapy for metastatic neuroblastoma with Tamarah Westmoreland, MD and Joseph Mazar, PhD | Image Credit: © Nemours- © Nemours - stock.adobe.com.
Geetika Kennady, MD, FAAP
Jillian Cotter, MD
© 2025 MJH Life Sciences

All rights reserved.