Encourage your children to walk and play with friends, not alone. Tell them to avoid places that could be dangerous – vacant buildings, alleys, playgrounds or parks with broken equipment and litter.

Teach children to settle arguments with words, not fists, and to walk away when others are arguing. Remind them that taunting and teasing can hurt friends and make enemies.

Make sure your children are taking the safest routes to and from school, stores, and friends’ houses. Walk the routes together and point out places they could go for help.

If anyone stops near your children, teach them to take two giant steps back away from the car. Even if they know the person, they do not need to go close to the car. Tell them to look for details: color of car, license plate, what the person looks like.

          Encourage kids to be alert in the neighborhood, and tell an adult (you, a teacher, a

Inform your child that some people on the web are not what they seem to be. They are very good at using the Internet, and can find out your child’s name and address.

Explore the Internet with your child. Be sure they ask permission from you before signing on alone and they know which sites are allowed.

Teach your child to let you know right away if he or she finds something scary on the Internet.

Your child should tell you right away. and never respond to a message that doesn’t seem OK.

Tell your child to never send a picture of himself or herself to anyone without your permission; and to never give out his or her name, address, phone number, password, school name, parent’s name, or any other personal information.

He or she should never agree to meet face to face with someone, and always tell you or another trusted adult if someone online asks to meet.

Leave a phone number where you can be reached. Post it by the phone, along with instructions to call 911.

Have your child check in with you or a neighbor when he or she gets home. Agree on rules for having friends over and going to a friend’s house when no adult is home.

Make sure your child knows how to use the window and door locks.

Tell your child not to let anyone into the home without your permission, and never to let a caller at the door or on the phone know there’s no adult home. Kids can always say their parents are busy and take a message.

Work out an escape plan in case of fire or other emergencies. Rehearse with your children.

Let your child know that he or she can tell you anything, and that you’ll be supportive.

Teach your child that he or she is in charge of his body, that no one – not even a teacher or a close relative – has the right to touch him or her in a way that feels uncomfortable. It does not matter if you know the person or not. Your child must say no, get away, and tell a trusted adult (Especially if your he or she is told to keep it a secret.)

Don’t force kids to kiss or hug or sit on a grown-up’s lap if they don’t want to. This gives them control and teaches them that they have the right to refuse.

Always know where your child is and who he or she is with.

Tell your child to stay away from persons who hang around playgrounds, public restrooms, and schools.

Be alert for changes in your child’s behavior that could signal sexual abuse:

- Sudden secretiveness

- Withdrawal from activities

- Refusal to go to school

- Increased anxiety

Some physical signs of abuse include bedwetting, loss of appetite, venereal disease, nightmares, and complaints of pain or irritation around the genitals.