Police Officer Preparation & Law Enforcement Resource - Archive

This subject was brought on by another thread (Guns in your house). I thought it was important to find out how some of you prepare your children for possible situations like fire, strangers, drugs, peer-pressure, smoking, suicide, abduction, talking to strangers, etc.etc. My husband and I take a huge role in informing the girls what they "may" encounter and how they can deal with it. Maybe we can all learn something here or possibly figure out a way to handle a situation in your home that has been difficult to approach. Anything you have to say will be helpful to someone, and maybe informative to us all.

I guess I will post what we do since I didn't do this in this thread but I did it in the other. We have told the girls that if anyone approaches them for help, it's important they know that they MUST come and get us first. We've explained the possiblity of them trying to use interesting ways to lure them away (ie..lost puppy story, candy, a free ride, the "I know your Mommy and she is very sick" story).

We don't ever give the girls personalized shirts or hats that a stranger could read and come up and talk to them by name, lowering their guard. We've even discussed the possibility of them being spoken to by family friends who they spend alot of time with and trust. If a friend of the family is going to be with the girls, pick them up, or do anything of that nature....they will be told so prior to it happening. If MOM didn't say it then it's not true.

We've spoken to them about peer pressure, which I'm surprised is such a big deal in the friend arena right now (age 9). The girls are being coerced to exclude other playmates because they are not good enough for their groups. I was shocked to hear this (at such an early age) but I am pleased to let you know that just discussing it openly with the girls and asking them how they would feel to be excluded....seemed to get the point across. I think when you are very close to your children and let them know how much you love them and that what they do is important to you.....the most difficult punishment for them to endure is the idea that they may have let you down in some way. My girls recover from spankins' pretty easily, but if they think they disappointed me, they'll really think about their actions.

..... Great thread!!!

I have two girls, ages 10 & 8. They are always (the youngest especially) worrying about people breaking into our apartment, and things like that.

And, i'm always worrying about strangers and whether or not they will remember all the things we talk about, like not talking to someone even if they say they are a friend of mine!

I never even thought about them (my girls) wearing things with their names on it. Both my girls have necklesses with their names.They won't be wearing them to school any more!!!

Kim :)

Coool! I had learn alot from you'll and i already inform my mom about what she should let my younger sister and brother knows since i dont live together with them, and there's only a younger brother which is suppose to be a guy, they need to be more careful about breakins etc as you can't predict what will happen tomorrow!

We've told our son that if anybody were to try to grab him, he is to yell,"This isn't my mom!" or "This isn't my dad!" If someone touches him in a way that is improper he's to yell if he has to and get away from them, tell an adult.

I too, am glad to see this thread. Please understand children, you can tell them and tell them, they can repeat back the correct answers, but when the situation arises, they can do all of the wrong things.

On a Oprah show a while back they took a group of parents and kids. These kids had ALL been coached on strangers, and all knew what to do if approached. Each parent was convinced that THEIR kid would not go with a stranger.

They took all of the kids to a playground with hidden cameras. Guess what? Every kid went with the "stranger" who was actually an actor. This person used techniques that known child molesters and killers had used in the past.

The parents were, of course, all shocked.

The best advice I can give is to practice. Role play. Have a person unknown to your kid approach your kid and observe how your kid reacts. USe this as a teaching tool.

WATCH YOUR KIDS. I see kids 6-7-8 years old out unsupervised in my neighborhood all of the time. A kidnapping waiting to happen.

My child (6 year old daughter) has been to the gun range with me several times, she knows what damage a gun causes. She has felt the concussion and heard the blast. We have been over and over gun safety with her, but I would not for one second fail to secure my guns in the home or trust her where a gun could be found.

Plan for the worst!

We also have had fire drills and burglar alarm drills. We started doing them in the day, preplanned. We now do them at night, without warning.

We have a "code" word that anyone other than her mother, grandmother or I claiming to need to pick her up from school must know before she is allowed to leave with the person. She cannot even leave with our best-friend-across-the-street-neighbor if she does not know the code word.

If we ever once have to use the code word, we will change it. We realize that aomething might come up that would necessitate her having to be picked up by someone else without prior knowledge.

These are just a few.

Hey TX...you are the reason that I started this thread. You posted on the "Gun in your House" discussion and my response was exactly the same as yours (regarding the OPRAH episode, LMAO). Thanks for being the inspiration to this thread. I posted in the other thread as well.

Just a couple of things that I did want to add. We too have a secret password which works wonders for the kids unlocking the door if I run to the mailbox or out to my car. The other thing is ....we have "NO" spots, the girls are NOT to be touched by anyone on their "NO" spots! "NO" spots are located where a full coverage bathing suit would hide. We told the girls that the only people who are allowed to touch those spots are themselves and health physicians (when we are present). This is very helpful for those parents who don't want to discuss words like VAGINA or PENIS....LMAO. I have friends who have asked about that. Anyway, I'll post more as I think of them. Thanks for the input.

Stump,

Good point, my daughter LOVES police and firefighters. We watch COPs together often. She knows if you do drugs, to jail you go!!

Island Girl.....thanks for the nice words

Well there's also cases where stranger bought or steal police clothing and immitate as a police officer and then start kidnapping a child in my country.

Best of all, especially road blocks to spot check stuff, dont stop if those police officer weren't wearing any uniforms, and although they are wearing uniforms, call to the police station and double confirm the situation, i had seen robbery case around with people who immitate themselves as police officer!

:)

Ronald'2oo2

Originally posted by Stump

Don't ASSume anything, island.


There aren't any LEOs in family, but my kids DO know they are the good guys. There is an Officer that visits their school often and they both think he's great!

:)

ASSumption is not a way of calling anyone an a$$.

It means when you Assume you can make an A$$ of You and ME,

get it?? A$$/U/ME.

It's an old saying and I know Stump meant no offense!

Well island_girl, although my english is not very good, but i think stump mean no offence and harm to you, probably keyboard stuck or what so ever, or maybe he did it just for the fun of it, come on, i think you can just forget about that :)

no offence :)

Hey stump, next time check your keyboard and make sure they are working properly, if you need an extra keyboard let me know, i can sponsor you one :)

Cheers!

ronald'2oo2

TX is correct, and no I didn't take offense, so you don't need to tell me I have a tender shell. I work with cops all day - if I were sensitive, I would be upset every day!
I think I made a valid point -- I talk to citizens every day that don't teach their children to go to officers when in trouble.
I think the best thing that cops have done lately is to get the school resource officers (SRO's). Their presence in schools helps prevent some incidents, and kids get to know cops as people and are more willing to talk, share problems, and get great advise. It also can help encourage children to strive to be law-abiding - something that unfortunately some parents don't teach their kids. Also helps recruit kids to be LEO's one day.

Well only if the SRO's in Malaysia is that friendly, i was a division head of the prefect as well as head of counsellor.

as far as i concern the SRO's in malaysia ****s, they just dont like anybody, man i tell you, all they want is you dont border (i hope this is the correct spelling) them and just let them sit down do nothing.

Whenever problem occurs, especially case like GANGs Fight, wow they will really start their job, use forces against forces and i dont think that is reasonable or correct. Well they are just juvenile and some not even reach the age of 18 my god.

Anyway hopefully nowadays they had change the situation as i heard from friends, more and more ganster fight in our secondary school (high scool to you'll). Not only within school but some even more "powerful" they are "inter-school gang fight" as well as "inter-race gang fight".

and do you'll know something all the while i though LEO are something like LEO CLUB (voluntary club that is formed in school to help people etc and there's LION club for elder adults etc)

sorry about that now i know LEO
is actually LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER !!!!

:( what a shame of myself kekekekek


cheers!
ronald

I'm familiar with the assume makes an "a$$" out of "u" and "me" saying. But I took it as being directed to me since she ended her statement with "island". I apologize, that was my misunderstanding. I'll delete my response.

Cool, me not trying to make each other into trouble, but yesterday after i watch a movie, i found the following really correct

people that consume by hate driven by rage - cannot be trusted in any circumstances no matter how good they change to.

Well definitely there's no people in this forum that is consume by hate and driven by rage :) Only terrorist will :)

ok cheers and everything goes smoothly.... over!

ronald'2oo2

I think everyone has good points and ideas.
It goes back to knolwledge is the key!
And we do also pull let's see what happens ,and when they were younger they failed some ..I have to tell you.
When they did we would talk to them and let them know what they did wrong and why it was wrong.
now at 13 and 9 They get it.
They are more afarid of people that hubbie arrested than being kidnapped tho. Proble because we live in a town where thier are only 15 officers and he has arrested a lot of people. It's sad when you can't even go to town with out everyone knowing you.
But for the childeren here it's good because they can't even get away with anyhting, Or before you know it mr. Jones calls cause he seen lil Johnny doing this or that. We have a lot of old nosie people here. lol.

Hi, I'm kinda new to your board and have enjoyed reading many of your posts.

I'm glad you started this thread and that you have posted some very important safety advice and tips.

Just wanted to add a few more.

You might want to teach your kids to look behind mirrors or anything attached to the wall that can hide a hole for a camera.
A father was recently arrested for taking a movie of his 12 year old while she bathed. He had the camera hidden behind the mirror. A few years back we had a coach invite his female teen players over to his house to celebrate their victory. He placed a movie camera behind the bathroom mirror. Luckily one of the teens became uncomfortable and trusted her intuition. Spotted the mirror and called her parents. Both males arrested.

In the dressing room of any store have your kids test the mirror. If nail touches the reflected nail in the mirror then leave without trying on any clothes. There should be a space between nails to be safe. Of course look for peep holes because cams are small now.

Sometimes we allow our children to sleep over their friends house and you gotta tell your kid if they feel weird in the morning or sore they need to let you know. The kids were drugged and fell asleep. While they slept, clothes were removed, picture taken, and rape occured. Some of the kids said they felt strange in the morning and luckily a parent or parents listened to their kids.

Unfortunately date rape drugs can be made in the home and purchased off the net. In a nearby suburb a highschool teacher recently was arrested along with over 100 others for the sale of the ingredients or the ectasy drug itself. 84 cities were involved in this investigation over the past 2 years.

WAY TO GO GOOD JOB!!!

But I am sad to know that their our victims out there that were given this drug without their knowledge. I know there are those who will readily consume the drug willingly but there are those that didn't. I hope the high schools and middle schools do some drug education and offer counseling for those that think they may have been drugged but just don't know.

To Charlie I know you posted something in another thread that if we got something to say we should have something to back it up so I made sure I told the story behind the advice. :p I have enjoyed reading your post. Just wanted to rib you just a little. Some posts stick with you more then others and just had to say that. hehehehe (No we haven't met).

Dear Roses,

ghee you have a beautiful name there, welcome to the board :)

well some addition, if i am not mistaken i dont know whether the drug is available in your country or not, but you can buy it in departmental store!

Panadol, Asprine or what so ever that contain the same type of stuff, when added with Coke-Cola! It will be something like the rape drug too.

it will make you feel sleepy and loose sense of control, that is why softdrink is not good for children, and if panadol is mixed with XO it will have the same effect! (Better than estacy, not tried before but heard alot from people since i use to be counsellor)

and well that is very dangerous :)

cheers!
ronald

ronald

ghee you have a beautiful name there, welcome to the board

That was very kind of you. Thank you!

Rose