5.  When talking to our children should we still use the term stranger danger?

A: No, that term is outdated and is no longer acceptable or practiced. I like to use the term, Situational awareness. Which means that we should be teaching our children how to react to situations no matter who the person is. The truth of the matter is that approximately 80% of all abductions come from people that are related or have built some type of rapport with the child. By providing children with situations/role playing scenarios, we are providing them with the tools and confidence to make sound decisions that they will be able to call upon if they are ever put in those situations. In order to keep our children safe, we must constantly role play these scenarios.

6. How can I find out if there is a sex offender in my area?

A: There are several websites that you can go to;

1.      The National Sex offender Registry Website @ www.nsopr.gov or

2.      www.familywatchdog.us

7. At what age can I leave my child home alone?

A: This is a question I get asked a lot. That’s a tough question to answer because each states guidelines may be different. In the state of Florida 12 is considered a reasonable age to be able to stay at home but I think more importantly you should look at the child’s maturity and how responsible they are.

8. If my child becomes missing, how long should I wait until I call the Police?

A: There is no time limit that you have to wait to report your child missing. As soon as you realize that your child is missing you should contact your local Law Enforcement agency to report it. Prior to their arrival you should do the following;

1.      Have your child’s vital information for Law Enforcement such as;

-          personal and medical information

-          description of physical characteristics

-          dental charts…if available

-          fingerprint card

-          DNA sample

-           Recent photograph