San Diego, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 06/16/2015 -- Dateline TV and Joel Salads recently published social experiments on stranger danger and put kids to the test. Results were shocking and eye opening. Are parents not preparing their children enough for the unthinkable situation of child abduction, sexual abuse, or assault? Most parents are unsure when it is the right age to speak about this topic with their children. That's why SmartKidsID would like to emphasize the need for parents to verbalize this topic with their children as early as possible. It is important to increase the child's awareness of situations that possibly could make them feel uncomfortable and build up a child's confidence in how to handle those situations with strangers or people they know. It is very important to clarify that possible predators are not necessarily strangers, but can also be relatives and people that children might have met before (i.e. people that came to the house before for any reason).

There are many age appropriate ways to talk about this. And when talking about how to stay safe and to avoid that the raised awareness turns into anxiety, parents can practice this by having the child actively participate. Practicing increases the child's confidence and competence.

These are 10 tips SmartKidsID put together to help improve children's safety skills and keep them safe from predators.

1. Never take anything from a stranger, enter a house, truck or car when no parents are around

Teach children that it is whether normal that a grown up approaches a child and offers something, nor it is normal to ask a child to get into a house, a truck, or any other isolated place by themselves. Situations could be the most trivial for and that person is very nice, i.e. that someone asks for help. Children need to be aware that this could be wrong. Children need to learn that it is 'ok' to say that they are not allowed to go into someone else's house or that they first need permission from the parents. Most importantly, children need to learn to keep the conversation as short as possible and walk away.

2. Stay in groups of 2 or more

There are many children that walk to school or ride the bus by themselves. If possible, children should stay in groups of 2 or more. First of all, this might keep a predator away from them; it also makes them stronger and helps them to make the right choice together. And if something happens one child might be able to run off and get help.

3. Never walk alone on dark streets, alleys, fields, and other dark places.

Sometimes children are tempted to use short cuts and walk i.e. through dark alleys or take a field path. Teach children to make the right choice and rather use the longer distance instead of the short cut to stay safe.

4. Never wait by yourself in the dark.

For example if children are waiting for their parents to pick them up, children should make sure to wait with the coach or other parents – never by themselves. Tell children to ask a teacher, friend or the friend's parents to wait with them when pick up is late. If nobody is around the child should stay inside a building, especially when it is getting dark early. Parents should also make sure to contact other parents to stay with their child when being late for pick up.

5. Follow your gut feeling.

Teach a child to follow their gut feeling. It might be hard to explain, but in a situation that does not feel right, the kids will remember and hopefully do the right thing.

6. Ask parents for permission

Teach children that they have to ask parents for permission if there is a situation when approached to take something, help or asked to go with the stranger. This is also an easy way of getting out of a situation and easy for younger children to remember.

7. Never let young kids go to a bathroom by themselves in public places.

Always accompany the younger children to the bathroom in public places, use the family bathroom or stay close to the bathroom if there are different genders after the age of 8 years. Parents can make sure that it is heard that someone is around by talking to a child loud when the door to the bathroom is still open.

8. Move away from cars/ trucks that seem suspicious

Tell your children to move away from cars that pull up aside or drive slowly next to them when they don't know the driver even if the driver pretends to know them. Children should know to change the side of the road or go right into a house's entry, ring the bell and ask for help.

9. Call parents whenever needed

Let children know that it is ok to contact the parents at any time in case the arranged pick up is late, can't make it or if the child missed the bus.

10. It is ok to say "NO"

Teach kids how to say "NO" and let them know that it is ok to say NO! Many kids think they hurt the other person's feeling because parents always teach kids to be nice and helpful. And someone that wants to sexual assault a child will also say that it is ok to do something and that the parents gave the permission, others may make the child feel bad when they are not doing what it is said. Children need to know that no one ever has the right to touch them, hurt them or ask them to do things that don't feel right. They need to learn that it is their body and they need to protect it. In addition children should know - no matter what - they need to tell the parents about those situations even someone tells them not to say something – they need to learn to distinguish between right and wrong and how to protect themselves.

These are just a few tips, but it is a start to help keep children stay safe and make them stronger in situations they could possibly be confronted with -especially if the adults in their lives help them learn and practice these skills. For more information, please contact us at info@smartkidsid.com or visit our website at https://SmartKidsID.com

About Liv & Leo, Inc.
Liv & Leo, Inc., a San Diego based company is specialized in 'SmartKidsID' wearable child Id safety products. It is owned by C. Thieler, a mom of three children who created SmartKidsID as an easy solution to keep kids safe with child id/medical Id bracelet that can significantly shorten the time a child is separated from a parent and make it possible that a child with a medical condition is being helped in the right way when parents can't be around. Products are available at SmartKidsID Shop.

Free child Id profiles are available at https://SmartKidsID.com. No purchase necessary.