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Role play to teach children safety
05:49 PM CST on Thursday, February 5, 2004
Video footage of a Florida abduction sends chills down the spines of
parents who forever wonder how best to protect their children. The video shows Carlie Brucia seemingly walking easily away with a
stranger. Many parents wonder if they can truly keep their children from
doing the same. Laura Minze, a licensed counselor at The Family Place in Dallas,
gathered some clues from the videotape. "It appears he's gained her
confidence because she goes with him willingly and there are so many ways
to gain their confidence," she said. Minze said child predators spend a lot of time developing ways to lure
their victims. She recommended parents define a stranger as anyone a child
doesn't know. Parents should also give children options about what to do
to get away. She said role playing is good. "When everyone is relaxed, it's a
helpful to say 'What would you do if somebody came to you and said mommy's
hurt?' Explain to them you would not do that." Minze said role playing examples of the 'right' thing to do will leave
a more lasting impression in a child's mind than using the abduction
footage as a teaching tool. She encouraged parents and and grandparents to highlight situations
with happy endings. She advised them to explain, in simple words, why
certain people are considered safe and others are strangers. Parents can
teach children to trust their instincts and give them a consistent safety
message. |