RCNO Enterprise

Newsletter
RCNO Enterprise= = www.DefenseAndProtection.com = Info@DefenseAndProtection.com (281) 686-2076	<= ![endif]>
May 23, 2008	Volume 1, Number 4
In This Issue · Letting Them Go… Safely · Safety Story: Worry-Free Fun at the Park!<= /p> · Who is a Stranger? Online Child Health & Safety Resources: Missing Kids National Center For Missing & Exploited Children www.MissingKids.com<= /span> KidsHealth= KidsHealth is the largest a= nd most-visited site on the Web providing doctor-approved health information about children from before birth through adolescence. www.KidsHealth.org ParentMap ‘cause paren= ting is a trip! Articles to help you navigate the shifting ground of family life = by giving you age-appropriate tips on critical subjects like eating, sleep, stress and health. Covers ages 0 – 18. www.ParentMap.com GreatSchools The parents guide to K-12 success. Winner of the 2007 Webby Award: Best Family and Parenting Site www.greatschools.net= <= ![endif]> Click on picture Worn by the child, the Child Guard transmitter sends a constant signal to the receiver, which is held by the adult. The signal is adjustable - from a distance of 6 to 30 feet, so when the child goes beyo= nd the set distance, the adult's receiver starts to beep.<= /p> Frequencies automatically adjust to alert the proper receiver if more than one adult is in the same area using the Child Guard monitoring system. Available in Panda only. &nbs= p; Upcoming Articles: Vacation Safety Choosing a Non-Lethal Self-Defense Weapon And More! Cl= ick here to be removed from this ma= iling list. =	Letting Them Go… Safely As our children get older and take on new privileges and responsibilities, there will be situations where they will find themselves outdoors without you – going to the store or park with friends, rid= ing bikes, walking to and from school or the school bus. While we don’t want to frighten our children, we can increase their sense of confidence – and our own – by making = sure that they are equipped with the basic information needed to avoid scary situations as they explore their new freedom. - &nbs= p; Individuals who prey on children wait for an opportunity when the child is alone. Children should not be outside their home by themselves, even for short periods of time. They should walk to a= nd from school and bus stops in groups.&nbs= p; You can even make arrangements with other parents in your neighbor= hood to have the kids walk or bike together. - &nbs= p; Child predators know that your children are= on the lookout for “strangers”.= They may try to gain your child's trust by becoming familiar to th= em, making minor contacts over a period of time, perhaps saying hello to them repeatedly. Make sure your children know to tell you if a stranger is try= ing to make friends with them. - &nbs= p; Children should never even approach a vehic= le unless they are absolutely sure it is okay. Abductors entice children to = walk near their vehicles and then pull them inside. You can actually list for = your children the trusted individuals who they can approach outside the home – family members and close friends. If they are confused or unsure, = they may make the wrong judgment call. - &nbs= p; If children repeatedly see the same occupied car parked or following them on their route to and from school or school = bus, they should report it to trusted adults immediately. It may be legitimate, but better safe than sorry. - &nbs= p; Children can often be tricked by adults ask= ing for help: looking for a lost pet, or assistance with directions to someon= e's house, perhaps even offering reward money for assistance. Make sure your children know tha= t most good-intentioned adults will not ask a child for help, and will certainly understand if the child walks (or runs) away without speaking. - &nbs= p; Children should know that if Mom or Dad were hurt, only a trusted friend or uniformed police officer would be sent to = find them – never a stranger. They should be taught only to approach uniformed police officers, and/or marked police cars. Safety Story: Worry-Free Fun at t= he Park! "I cannot believe you are going to put that THING on = our child." Ann glared at = Craig. He responded sheepishly, "but you know how little Joh= nny likes to take off, honey. This bungee leash is the only way we'll be sure= he doesn't get away from us!" "We're going to a kiddie park," Ann reminded him, "not the Westminster Kennel Club!" The doorbell rang. Craig opened the door for Ann's best friend, Jennifer, and her daughter. After one look at Johnny, the little girl tugged on her mom's trou= ser leg and asked, "Is Johnny playing doggie?" Jennifer reached into her purse and produced a tiny plastic panda. "Here guys, I got an extra one of these, and it looks like you can use it." Jennifer told her friends that she worried about her little one too, but that she didn't want her to miss out on having fun in crowded places. She explained how the Child Guard alerts parents by beeping if a child strays more than a few feet away. "Mommy says I need to hold on to my kitty," interrupted her daughter, showing off her cat-shaped Child Guard, on a ri= bbon around her neck. "They're shaped like little pets, so the kids don't m= ind it when they're clipped to their clothes," said Jennifer.= Craig studied the panda and wondered aloud, "but what happens when we're all using our Child Guards at the same time? How does = it know which is which?" "That's what's great about the system," said Jen= nifer, "it scouts around for a clear frequency, so it doesn't interfere with anyone else's system. So, are we going to the park, or what?" Later that afternoon, the children played on a swing set w= hile the parents relaxed on a park bench. A panda and a kitty dangled from the= ir necks. Suddenly Johnny glan= ced around, hearing the familiar sound of the ice cream truck pulling into the park. A split second later, the Child Guard receiver Craig had attached to his key ring started to beep. Craig rushed off to scoop Johnny up on his dash for the sweets. As they saw another young child straining against a nylon harness, Craig reminded himself to thank Jennifer for helping them enjoy the afternoon, leash-free. <= o:p> <= /o:p> Who is a Stranger? We teach children from the time they can talk = to be wary of strangers. And i= t may seem obvious to us as adults, but it’s very important to *define* the word “stranger” for our small children. This may be harder than it seems. Just because you see the mailman= every day does not mean that he is not a stranger. We speak to the friendly man on = the park bench every week, but he is still a stranger. The nice lady at the grocery sto= re checkout is a stranger. The easiest thing may be to help the child name trusted family and friends. T= hen make it clear: everyone els= e is a stranger. This often overlooked piece of information is a vital tool in teaching our children to protect themselves.

Safety Story: Worry-Free Fun at t= he Park!

This often overlooked piece of information is a vital tool in teaching our children to protect themselves.