Teach your children according to their age:

• Their name, age, telephone number, area code, address, city and province.
• To carry identification.
• How to phone long distance by dialling direct or with operator assistance.
• How to reach you in an emergency. How to reach police, fire, ambulance, doctor, relative, and a neighbour.
• To carry enough money to make a phone call.
• To tell where they are at all times.
• Not to answer the door if they are alone.
• Never to invite strangers into their home.
• Not to enter anyone's home without permission.
• Not to accept gifts from strangers.
• Never to approach or enter a stranger's car.
• Never to hitchhike.
• That they have your permission to say "No" to an adult, especially if that person wants them to do something you've taught them is wrong.
• That no one has the right to touch any part of their body a bathing suit could cover.
• To tell you if someone has asked them to keep a secret.
• To scatter their books or belongings of they are forced towards a building or car.
• Never to play in deserted buildings or isolated areas.
• Never to take shortcuts through empty parks or fields.
• About the Block Parent Program and logo.
• That if they are being followed, they should run home or go to the nearest public place and yell for help.
• To go places with friends.
• That adults rarely ask a child for help.
• That if they become separated from you at a grocery store or shopping mall, to go directly to a cashier or counter clerk.
• To report to you, school authorities, or a police officer anyone who exposes private parts.
• To recognize suspicious behaviour and remember a description of the person or vehicle to give to you or the police. Advise them to write the plate number in the dirt or snow if nothing else is available.
• Never to show their money, and if they are attacked for it, to give it up rather than risk injury.
• That police officers are their friends and that they can rely on them if they are in trouble.
• That they can talk to you and that you are interested in and sensitive to their fears.

... And Yourself

• To provide school or day-care centre the names of persons to whom your child may be released. Also inform the school or day-care centre who to notify in the event that you child does not arrive at school or day-care.
• To look carefully at your child's clothing each day.
• To keep an up-to-date colour photograph of you children, at least one for each year (more for younger children.)
• To keep a medical and dental history of your child's blood type, medical problems, scars, broken bones, pulled teeth, braces, glasses, medications, allergies, etc.
• To have your child fingerprinted and keep the prints with other pertinent information.
• To avoid clothing and toys with a child's name. This is important because a child is less likely to be fearful of someone who knows their name.
• To check all potential babysitters and older friends of your child.
• To always accompany children to the bathroom in a public place, and advise them never to loiter in or around the area.
• To always accompany your child on door-to-door activities, i.e. Hallowe'en, school fund raising campaigns.
• To make a list of important names, telephone numbers and addresses and place these where they can be easily accessible to the child at home, preferably near the telephone.