Child
Abductions
Several
distinct forms of child abduction exist: A
stranger removes a child for criminal or mischievous purposes, A
stranger removes a child (usually a baby) to bring up as that person's
own child, A parent removes or retains a child from the other parent's
care (often in the course of or after divorce proceedings).
While
cases
have been reported from antiquity, this phenomenon has recently taken
on greater awareness as a result of movies and television series
depictions of the premise of people who remove children from strangers
to bring up as their own often after the death of their own child.
Perhaps
the most feared kind of abduction is removal by
a stranger. The stereotypical version of stranger abduction is the
classic form of "kidnapping,"in which the child is detained,
transported some distance, held for ransom or with intent to keep the
child permanently.
The
most common form of "stranger abduction,"
however, is the situation in which a child is abducted by a stranger,
friend and acquaintance for some purpose other than ransom and
typically involves less force and is of shorter duration. It is
estimated that in 1999 there were approximately 58,000 such child
abductions and nearly 50% suffered sexual assault during that abduction.
A
very small number of abductions result from
(typically) women who kidnap babies (or other young children) to bring
up as their own. These women are often unable to have children of their
own and seek to satisfy their unmet psychological need by abducting a
child rather than by adopting. The crime is often premeditated, with
the woman often simulating pregnancy to reduce suspicion when a baby
suddenly appears in the household.
By
far the most common kind of child abduction is
parental child abduction and often occurs when the parents separate or
begin divorce proceedings. A parent may remove or retain the child from
the other seeking to gain an advantage in expected or pending
child-custody proceedings.
Or because that parent fears losing the child
in those expected or pending child-custody proceedings; a parent may
refuse to return a child at the end of an access visit or may flee with
the child to prevent an access visit. Parental child abductions may be
within the same city, within the state region or within the same
country, or may be international. Protect you child from abduction!
Small
Wander
Do you have small children who wander off? Have you ever experienced
that feeling of panic when you believe your child is missing? Most
parents have traveled this road, your heart is racing and you
immediately think the worst.
Approximately 2,100 missing-children reports are filed each day. To
small children the world is a huge, exciting, fun filled playground,
and with no reason to fear any of its inhabitants, boundaries are
nonexistent.
For most children a parent, is the only wall between them and what
lurks in the outside world. You love your children and want to them to
have a safe and happy childhood, so of course you take every precaution
to ensure their safety. The dangers are already numerous for small
children and even greater for children who wander away from their
parents.
While children can wander off anywhere, some places present more of an
opportunity than others do. Most kids are found within a few moments of
wandering off but that does not stop the nerve racking feeling you get
upon discovery that you child is gone.
The key to saving yourself from this nightmare maybe in your preventive
measures. If you know your children are subject to wandering off you
will want to keep a close eye on them, especially in public places.
Handling children can be tricky at times. They may take advantage while
your are engaged in other activities and make their escape. As a parent
you probably have already experienced the momentary absence of your
child while shopping in one of the giant retail stores. If the child is
small enough, a good way to alleviate the problem is to let them ride
in the shopping cart.
Its not an all purpose solution but it works sometimes. These stores
are like giant playpens full of excitement, which may agitate the
senses of some children and make freedom, even for a moment, worth the
separation from parents.
The small ones can travel at an amazing pace and given the right amount
of time could end up just about anywhere. Movie theaters also provide
an opportunity for the adventurous youngster to disappear. They are
often dark and unsecured, but many parents see no problem with allowing
their children to roam free. This maybe an invitation to trouble.
Public parks, with all their splendor, seem to be gathering places for
parents with children who wander away. They are lots of fun and
everyone should be encouraged to visit them, but they become your worst
nightmare when your child is lost.
This peaceful sanctuary for animals and trees turns into a war zone
with a myriad of dangers. Most children do not wander very far and are
usually located in the general area. Fortunately the problem of
wandering children is preventable with close supervision and a few
precautions.
Children are naturally curious and if given a chance will seek to
satisfy their curiosity. Preventing children from wandering off can be
as simple as holding their hand wherever you go. You will find even the
smallest children reluctant to follow this tradition.
They will want to walk on their own at times. And you will want to
encourage their independence, so this may not be a practical solution
in every case. Luckily there are other ways to keep your child in the
safe zone and allow independence.
You can set boundaries for your children. It is surprising how much
your children will respect and follow boundaries when enforced by a
parent. Always supervise your children in places like shopping malls
and stores. Never under any circumstances send a small child to a
public restroom alone, as the child may find more interesting places on
the way.
Even at home children are subject to wander way from safety. Never
under any circumstances leave small children unsupervised outside.
Small children live for adventure and most everything around them is a
new experience and given a chance they will wander.
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Worn by the child, the cartoon animal-shaped
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 beyond the set distance, the adult's receiver
starts to beep, letting them know that the child is starting to wander
off.