Stranger Danger - Teaching Abduction Safety to Children

Stranger Danger is one of the most important lessons for children to learn. We all know the catch phases like "Don't talk to strangers", "Never get into a car with a stranger", and "Don't take candy from a stranger." The phases are simple reminders for kids, but they can make the child insecure and fearful. How can we teach about stranger danger without scaring them or give them nightmares? Here's some quick tips to keeping your child safe.

What is a Stranger?

The first thing to teach children is the difference between a friend and a stranger. Statistics show that casual acquaintances perpetuate most abductions. Children wrongly assume that because the parent says "hi" to the clerk at the grocery store, that they are friends. Quiz your child in the difference between a stranger and a friend. Ask them if... a teacher is a friend or stranger, how about the cashier at Blockbuster, or your neighbor that you have know for 5 years, etc.? This drill is an excellent start.

Saying No to Adults

We teach our children to respect adult and listen to them so most children have difficulty say no to adults. Child Predators exploit this tendency to abduct children by telling them to get into a car with a stern voice. The stern voice makes the child feel they did something wrong and comply with the demands.

Teaching your child, that it is okay to say no to strangers and that they ALWAYS need to ask parent's permission first before meeting stranger's demands. Parents can role-play the parts of the stranger and have child say no.

What's the Secret Password?

In the case of an emergency, create a family password that only you and your child know. A friend may need to pick up your child at school or an activity. How does your child know that you asked them to pick them up and it's not a trick? Yes, you got it, the family password. The child asks the friend for the family password and if they know it, the child knows that you did send them and everything's okay. Don't forget to change the password once it is used.

Important Information your child should know

Teach your child some vital information will assist if they get lost. You should quiz them periodically to ensure they remember it. Give them lots of praise and attention for answering correctly. The vital information for the child to know is your full home address, home phone number, both parent's full names, and cell phone numbers. Many kids are shy around other adults so it's important to build their confidence so they can repeat the information to a police officer or another person trying to help.

Know thy enemy

Awareness is power in abduction safety. Parents should know if any child predators live in their area. Parents can go to http://www.familywatchdog.us to search for child predators with prior conviction in your area.

Tim Rosanelli is a 5th degree Black Belt in Shotokan Karate and owns Maximum Impact Karate located in Dublin, Pennsylvania. For more information about Maximum Impact Karate visit their website at www.maximpactkarate.com

Or...

Read more of Tim Rosanelli's articles at www.timrosanelli.blogspot.com

Unravel Child Abduction Facts

One minute she's there and the next she's gone. It is indeed every parent's worst nightmare not to know where their child is, or what's happened to her.

Following are the various types of Child Abduction

family kidnapping

By far the most common kind of child abduction is parental child abduction and often occurs when the parents separate or begin divorce proceedings. When relationships break down, a minority of parents cannot face the prospect of living apart from their child or even of sharing the care of the children with their ex-partner. Occasionally, a parent will decide to take the law into their own hands and bring their children to live with them without the permission of the other parent or the courts - an act called parental child abduction.

Acquaintance kidnapping

Victimizes more females than males, occurs primarily at outdoor locations, victimizes both teenagers and school-age children, is associated with sexual assaults in the case of girl victims and robberies in the case of boy victims (although not exclusively so), and is the type of kidnapping most likely to involve the use of a firearm.

Stranger kidnapping

Perhaps the most feared (although not the most common) kind of abduction is removal by a stranger. The stereotypical version of stranger abduction is the classic form of "kidnapping." Stranger kidnapping victimizes more females than males, occurs primarily at outdoor locations, victimizes both teenagers and school-age children, is associated with sexual assaults in the case of girl victims and robberies in the case of boy victims (although not exclusively so), and is the type of kidnapping most likely to involve the use of a firearm.

International child abduction

When a child is removed across an international frontier either having been taken from the care of such a person, or having been removed without the consent of such person, then this constitutes an international child abduction.

International Child Abduction is not new. Reasons behind increases in international child abduction include greater numbers of relationships between partners of different nationalities and easier cheaper travel facilities and a high divorce rate.

Find more information on Child Abduction at Osbornes.net

GPS Tracking for Children - 3 Devices Available to Keep Your Child Safe

GPS tracking for children is becoming more widely available, and there are 3 devices available now that you can choose from to help keep your child safe. It is a terrifying feeling when you can't find your child, and when they are away at school it can be difficult not knowing if they are where they should be. Child abductions are more common than people think and it just takes a second to lose track of a child, but now there is something you can do about it. There are a few other GPS trackers on the market, but the three below are targeted with kids in mind.

1. BrickHouse Child Locator: You may have seen this device on a battery commercial recently; the all too common scene of a mother tending to a younger child only to turn around to find their older child is gone. Panic sets in, but thanks to this device she quickly locates her son and all is well again. Unfortunately, this device doesn't work as well as it shows on that ad and many have found that it is great for finding keys, but not so great for finding kids. So you may want to save your money for one of the other two devices discussed below.

2. SecuraPAL GPS Child Tracking Device: GPS tracking plus an easy to access SOS button, this device gives piece of mind in a handy little piece of technology. One really cool feature is the secura fences that you can place so that you are notified by e-mail if your child leaves any designated spot. You can add as many fences as you like and easily add new ones if new places start to become regularly visited. This device can fit inside a pocket or a backpack and works with both the iPhone and Blackberry.

3. Amber Alert GPS Armor: This is a brand new device that has some very cool features that will work for kids of all ages. You may have seen the previous Amber Alert model before, but this new kid friendly device can be color customized and is about the size of an Oreo. It works with phone apps as well as on computers to use the GPS tracking, which you can watch live and see it move every 60 seconds. The unlimited model comes with an SOS alert, low battery alert, safe zone alerts, a speed alert and more. If you'd like to be able to contact your child you can opt for the 2-way voice which allows you to either call and just listen in, or call your child and be connected with them instantly (it does not ring or vibrate like a cell phone.)

In the article above you learned more about GPS tracking for children and some of the options out there for you to choose from. The Brickhouse child locator may work in some situations, but if you want something a little more reliable, I recommend you take a look at the SecuraPal GPS Child Tracking device as well as the new Amber Alert GPS Armor. You can't do everything to protect your child, but it can give you peace of mind to be able to keep an electronic eye on them. Be alerted if they leave the school yard, keep track of a teenager's speed while they are driving, or just know they have an SOS button within reach if they should need it.

Child GPS tracking is a fairly new option for parents, and it can be a huge relief just knowing they are safe even if you can't be with them.

To learn more about the #1 device on the market visit GPS Tracking for Children

Child Safety - Does Your Dog Have More Identification Than Your Child?

Take a moment and think about it. When you consider the fact that, as adults, we would never consider leaving the house without our id. We spend thousands on home and car alarms, we are even protecting our family pets with microchips; however, our most cherished possessions, our children, leave home without any identification.

Here are some questions:

- Have you taken the time to record your child's fingerprints, gather a hair sample for DNA purposes, record all his/her specific identification, including specific identifying features and a photograph of your child in a Child ID kit? If so, is it up to date?

- In the event of a motor vehicle accident, in which you have been rendered unconscious, do the emergency medical professionals have a quick way of accessing your child's specific medical history, including your child's blood type, medical provider, allergies, any medications they may be taking at the time, or, even your family's doctor's name and phone number?

- If you were on vacation with your children and they became lost or separated from you, or worse, arrived at a hospital, unconscious, as a John Doe, how or who would notify you and how would they know to do so?

- Do you or your husband, for that matter; carry your child's specific identification,

this should include an up to date picture?

- Do you, as responsible parents, take the time to talk with your children about child safety?

- If you became separated from your child in a crowd, would someone be able to contact you directly, or even know who your child was?

If your answer was no or I don't know, don't worry, you are not alone. The sad fact of the matter is that children do not carry identification; if they did they would likely loose it!

Given today's world, it's becoming a necessity for children to carry identification. This fact was clearly illustrated through recent tragic natural disasters such as the tsunami, hurricane Katrina and the earthquake in Pakistan. With each of these disasters, we've witnessed far too many unidentified children.

When thinking of child identification, often, fingerprints and hair samples are the first things that enter our mind. There are far too many companies that profess to provide your child with identification.

Let me inform you that 99.9% of those companies are passive in nature.

Fingerprints, DNA information, pictures and even dental records will and are only ever used after the fact. Passive information. Think of it as locking the barn after the horse gets away. It's unfortunate that as parents, we feel that we have done all possible to protect our children by having recorded this information. This is the first step, and a very important step in the safety of your child; however, as a parent, the only time you ever want to look at your child's identification kit is and should be when you update it. This is a very important step towards safeguarding against the unthinkable. Few people are aware that children's fingerprints are actually changing for the first 4-5 years of their life; therefore, it is imperative that this information be updated at least once a year, and every 6 months for the first three years of a child's life.

When looking for a child identification provider, keep in mind the old adage " An once of prevention far outweighs a pound of cure". If all the company provides you with are a fingerprint kit, keep looking! One such proactive provider of child safety and identification is Child ID Labels inc.

The purpose of this article is not to alarm you but to inform you, as we are all aware, information is a powerful tool. If, in reading this, you took a moment to think about your child's safety, please email this article to as many people as you know and encourage them to do the same. Your children are, after all, your most valuable possessions as well as our future.

Scott Irwin is the Marketing Director for Child I.D. Labels inc. Founded in 1995, Child ID Labels has been protecting North American children for more than 10 years. For more information on their unique proactive approach to child identification and how you can help keep your children safe visit http://www.childidatlantic.com Child ID Labels inc. is growing and open to distributorship enquiries. Email us at info@childidatlantic.com.

Top 14 Child Abduction Prevention Tips

Child abduction is rare, but it does happen. As a parent, you can't spend every moment with your child to ensure that he or she is safe. You can, however, teach your child how to be safe and how to help safeguard themselves against abduction. It is important to try to discuss abduction in a way that is serious, yet not too frightening for the child. The following guidelines are written for children and can be a useful tool for parents teaching their children how to be safe.

Child Abduction Prevention Tips


Do not go near a car you don't know.
Always let your parents know where you are and who you are with.
If you get lost in a public place, stay put. Ask someone who works there for help finding your parents.
Stay away from strangers; never tell them your name or where you live.
If you feel like you are being followed, get away as quickly as you can. The best places to go are where you know an adult or where there are a lot of people. If you are being followed by a car, run in the other direction.
If someone makes you feel uncomfortable, tell an adult you trust.
Use the buddy system: take someone with you whenever you are in public.
Never take candy or gifts from a stranger.
If an adult asks you for directions, do not talk to them. This is something they should ask another adult to do, not a child.
Never go anywhere without a parent's permission.
If you need to use a public restroom, do not go alone - take a buddy with you.
If anyone touches or treats you in a way that makes you uncomfortable, tell them to "STOP" in a loud voice. Then tell an adult you trust right away.
If someone tries to lead you away, scream "Help!", "I don't know you!", or "Stranger!"
Use a secret emergency code word your whole family knows. If someone does not know the secret word, you should not go with him or her.

As parents, it is important to keep lines of communication open with your children at all times. Talk with your children on a daily basis about the safety precautions they must take while at home and in public. Studies have shown that children are at highest risk of abduction before and after school, which are usually the times when they have least adult supervision. Make sure that your child and his or her school teachers know exactly who is supposed to pick them up from school. If the person picking them up ever changes be sure to notify the school and have them confirm the right person has picked your child up.

If your child is a latch-key kid, be sure to establish a plan with him or her to always check-in with you once they have arrived home from school. Knowing where your child is at all times is one of the most thorough ways to ensure their safety. Finally, it is important to listen to what your children have to say, because they might not always know how to communicate to you about when they have felt in danger. If your child does report any suspicious behavior to you, alert your local authorities immediately.

Read more family safety tips and find out how a home security system from Gaylord Security can help protect your family.

Dumbo (Two-Disc 70th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray / DVD Combo Pack in Blu-ray Packaging)

A Disney "classic" that actually is a classic, Dumbo should be part of your video collection whether or not you have children. The storytelling was never as lean as in Dumbo, the songs rarely as haunting (or just plain weird), the characters rarely so well defined. The film pits the "cold, cruel, heartless" world that can't accept abnormality against a plucky, and mute, hero. Jumbo Jr. (Dumbo is a mean-spirited nickname) is ostracized from the circus pack shortly after his delivery by the stork because of his big ears. His mother sticks up for him and is shackled. He's jeered by children (an insightful scene has one boy poking fun at Dumbo's ears, even though the youngster's ears are also ungainly), used by the circus folk, and demoted to appearing with the clowns. Only the decent Timothy Q. Mouse looks out for the little guy. Concerns about the un-PC "Jim Crow" crows, who mock Dumbo with the wonderful "When I See an Elephant Fly," should be moderated by remembering that the crows are the only social group in the film who act kindly to the little outcast. If you don't mist up during the "Baby Mine" scene, you may be legally pronounced dead. --Keith Simanton

Price: $39.99

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Child ID Cards - Over 2100 Children Go Missing Each Day, A Child ID Card Can Help Find a Lost Child

The U.S. Department of Justice reports:

o 797,500 children (younger than 18) were reported missing in a one-year period of time studied resulting in an average of 2,185 children being reported missing each day.

o 203,900 children were the victims of family abductions.

o 58,200 children were the victims of non-family abductions.

o 115 children were the victims of "stereotypical" kidnapping. (These crimes involve someone the child does not know or someone of slight acquaintance, who holds the child overnight, transports the child 50 miles or more, kills the child, demands ransom, or intends to keep the child permanently.)

While these statistics are startling, the risk of a child missing or being kidnapped, as far as percentages go, is really quite low. They are low, that is, until it becomes your child. Should the situation arise that your child is missing, there are certain pieces of information that you need to have readily at hand to give to emergency authorities. They include:

*A recent photo of the child

*Medical information pertaining to the child

*Any identifying marks

*Physical information such as color of eyes, hair, or do they wear glasses

This information can be kept on a piece of paper at home along with a picture, but what happens if you don't have access to that information? Say you are at the mall when your child disappears, what do you have to help police or security guards?

One answer is that you have a child ID card in your wallet that contains all the pertinent information that authorities need to find your child. The information that provides critical ID information to authorities will go a long way in helping to find your child. It is also recommended that you keep a picture of your child on your cell phone for emailing or download.

It also needs to be noted that approximately 85% of children under the age of 16 carry no form of ID. The risk then arises that if your child is in an accident away from home, say at the skateboard park, and injured or rendered unconscious, they will have no information on their person that First Responders can use in either treating them or in getting in contact with you.

There are countless other examples where the need for your child to carry an ID card will arise. If you are on vacation and in an auto accident and rendered unconscious, will your child have information about them that lists any medication or physical conditions? The times the need for an ID card arises are countless.

It is recommended that your child have an ID card and you have one as well. Additionally, the card should be updated once a year (usually on the child's birthday) or as medical conditions change. Information that should be on the card includes:

*Photo

*Address

*Color of hair and eyes

*Identifying marks

*Contacts with at least two phone number

*Medicines and allergies

*Doctor's name and phone

*Dentist's name and phone

The card should be made of a durable plastic. This way there is little risk of it being ruined when the child is playing or should the card get wet. Another reason for a plastic card is the sense of importance it brings to the child-they'll have a real ID card just like their parents driver's license.

A Child ID Card will prove to be a great tool in the case of an emergency or missing child. We recommend that you give one to your child and keep the other in your wallet. And make sure you keep the card up to date.

In today's society, it is so easy for a child to become lost or missing. Help increase the chances of them being found with the information that will be on your Child ID Card.

To see this and other forms of ID, please visit our web site http://www.familyidkit.com

What You Can Do To Safeguard Your Child And Be Prepared

Here is a list of things your can do to be proactive in protecting your child as well as being prepared incase your child is missing or abducted.

o Never leave a child unattended while shopping, visiting with neighbors or friends. Under no circumstances should you leave a child alone in a car or truck.

o Teach your child to always tell you where they are going and check with you before going anywhere with anyone.

o Teach your child their address and phone number as well as a second phone number of a friend or relative at an early age. Have them practice writing and reciting this information.

o Teach your child how to make a collect phone call, and begin by saying "Operator I'm in trouble; I need your help."

o If your child is home alone; teach them to:

o Keep all doors and windows locked.

o Never let anyone know that he or she is alone.

o Never let anyone in the house even if they say they are a police officer or from the fire department. These individuals know how to forcibly enter a house if there is an emergency.

o Keep a current photograph of your child (up close head and shoulders and a profile picture). Update your child's picture every 6 months to 1 year. Take videos a couple of times a year.

o Have your child fingerprinted.

o Have a current description of your child on hand. This description should include: height, weight, hair color, eye color, if your child is left or right handed, birthmarks, scars, moles, freckles other unique identifying features.

o Be aware of what your child is wearing.

o Know who their friends are, where they live and their phone numbers.

o Create a family secret CODE WORD. Tell your child that if anyone approaches them saying that they are a family friend, they must ask for the secret word. If the person does not know the word your child should run away as quickly as possible and tell a trusted adult.

o Let your child know that their body belongs to them. No one has the right to touch them inappropriately. If this happens or if they feel uncomfortable around someone they should tell you.

o Do not label clothing, backpacks, purses or other clothing item. A child will tend to pay attention to anyone calling him or her by name.

o Teach your child to yell "THIS IS NOT MY PARENT" and run to somewhere safe with a lot of people if someone tries to take them away.

o Teach your child to tell you or another trusted adult immediately if a stranger asks them for help (for example: Can you help me find a pet? Can you give me directions?), offers them candy or gifts, or frightens them in anyway.

This information was compiled from multiple sources to create a comprehensive document. Some of these sources include: Maryland State Police Maryland's Missing Children pamphlet, childsearch.org and missingkids.com

Child Product:http://www.rubystone.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?page=RBS/PROD/CP1/ICTSS Ruby started RubyStone Enterprises aka http://www.rubystone.com to help keep you and your little ones stay safe and secure. At http://www.RubyStone.com we offer a wide range of Free Safety advice, Newsletters, guides and tips as well as the very latest in unique safety products to help you protect yourself and loved ones. Copyright 2007 by Ruby Aragon. All rights reserved.

We've got the solutions to help you cope with all of these situations. Your life becomes easier and safer when you have unique safety and protection products from Rubystone.

You CAN Protect Your Loved Ones In An Emergency-By Being Prepared!

Child Safety Should Be America's Top Priority

If not now, when will America come to terms with losing her children to abductions by adults and organizations targeting and trafficking our youth. Seems like every day you turn on the news or read the newspaper, another child has been abducted by a stranger or in some cases family members and parents.

Child abductions rank up there with high crimes, treason and terrorism. Why is it American citizens are not sick and tired of being sick and tired about this terrible problem?

Major television continues to produce shows about the glamorous lifestyle of her celebrities, while at the same time you hardly see or hear anything about the abduction of our countries most valuable assets, our children.

Child safety should be #1 in the hearts and minds of over 300 million citizens in the United States of America. If we are to be considered the lone super power in the world, then we had better darn well take care of our children.

Having grown up in a family of nine children, my mother and father did everything that could to protect us from any and all acts of deceit and deception by mentally unstable and mentally sick adults. Mind you my father did not play that game and every one in my community understood you do not mess with the Vann children and if you do, there would be a price to be paid to rectify the problem.

The fact that two parents are working in the household and strangers are raising children in day care centers throughout the country, it is no wonder the rate of child abductions and exploitation is at an all time high. It is a sad state of affairs for America, but you can do something to protect your children.

Visit my child safety website to learn more about my business and sign up to protect your children: www.childshieldusa.com/plvfoundation.

Thank you in advance for taking time out of your schedule to learn how you can make a world of difference providing safety for our children. If you have any questions contact me at (240) 476-8976.

Paul Lawrence Vann is a successful entrepreneur, motivational speaker and author of the book, Living on Higher Ground. He leads Fortune 500 companies, associations, government agencies, and eudcational institutions to achieve higher levels of excellence through his leadership and diversity strategies. Hos clients include MasterCard International, United States Air Force Academy, USEPA, National Military Family Association, Toastmasters International, John Hopkins University, and numerous other organizations. http://www.paullawrencevann.com, [http://www.livingonhigherground.com], http://pvann.blogspot.com, (800) 476-8976.

JanSport Classic SuperBreak Backpack

Boasting a sturdy 600-denier polyester construction and a stylish exterior, the JanSport SuperBreak backpack easily and comfortably carries your gear for years to come. The utilitarian pack offers a single main compartment and a front pocket with an organizer, giving it enough space to store two to three textbooks, a large binder, two to three spiral notebooks, several paperbacks, a calculator, pens and pencils, a bag lunch, a cell phone, and an MP3 player--all without breaking a sweat. In addition, the SuperBreak is comfortable enough for a full day of striding from class to class, with straight-cut, padded shoulder straps and a 2/3-padded back panel for cushioning comfort. Also outfitted with a web haul loop along the top, the SuperBreak carries a lifetime warranty.

Specifications:

• Capacity: 1,551.2 cubic inches / 25.42 liters
• Dimensions: 13 by 16.7 by 8.5 inches (W x H x D)
• Weight: 12 ounces

About JanSport
For more than 30 years, JanSport has created products to help you carry the stuff you need, where you need it, in the most functional and fashionable way possible. JanSport's success extends around the globe and into walks of life that are as varied as the company's product offering. JanSport's goal is to design, engineer, manufacture, and market products that can help you get from point A to point B, wherever that may be. And the company wants to help you get there in the most functional way possible. Realizing that the pack that carries your books to school might be the same backpack that carries your gear on a Saturday day hike, JanSport incorporates flexibility into each and every design. The company is headquartered in Appleton, Wisconsin, with offices in the U.S. and Europe.

Price: $0.00

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Family Lawyers for Child Abduction

Child Abduction and The Hague Convention

Child Abduction - Within Australia

In case a child has become wrongfully removed within Australia, it is possible to apply to the Family Courtroom for Recovery Order, which will may authorise officers of the Family Court of Australia, officials of the Australian Federal Law enforcement, and officials of the States' and Territories' Police Forces to stop and/or search vehicles, boats, plane, premises or areas in which there exists reasonable lead to to believe the child may be found, and to take possession of the child and return the child to the party whose made the Application for the Recovery Order.

It may even be possible to get a Commonwealth Information Order, directing delegates of particular Commonwealth Departments to supply to the Family Court information in relation to the whereabouts of the kid.

Removal of the Child from Australia

If there is a concern that there might be a threat of your child being wrongfully removed from Australia and there's an existing Family Court Order in respect of residence and contact of the child, it's feasible to use a PACE Alert put in place in the Federal Police.

A PACE Alert permits the Australian Federal Police to halt the travel of the kid from Australia, with the child's specifics being held on an Airport Watch List in all international departure points within Australia.

When there is no existing Family Court Order with regards to the child, it may be important to file an Application and thereafter provide the Australian Federal Police with a duplicate of an Order that authorises a PACE Alert to be positioned on the child's name, which could be sought quickly from the Court as part of the parenting orders.

If a child became wrongfully removed from Australia, the procedure for acquiring the return of the child may depend on which country the kid has been taken to.

Australia is a party to an International Treaty on child abduction, known as the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction.

If the child has been taken to a country this is a signatory to the Convention, an Application may be produced for the child's return within the terms of the Convention.

This usually occurs through the exercise of the power of the State Central Authority, that in Queensland is the Attorney General's office.

However, if a child has been taken to country that's not a party to the Hague Convention, it may nonetheless be achievable to possess the child returned to Australia. In most instances, a family lawyer in the overseas country may have to be employed, in order to issue authorized proceedings in that country for the recovery of the child. It may be possible to prevent the issue of an Australian Passport for any child. Questions need to be made to the Australian Passports Office.

It may even be likely to prevent the issue of the foreign Passport for the child, by getting in touch with the affiliated Embassy in Australia. If you want to remove your children interstate or abroad then do not so with out first obtaining authorized guidance regarding the ramifications of such intended step.

Australian Family Law and Defacto Law
At Hartley Healy we practice solely in the area of Family Law and Defacto Law. All of our resources and efforts are dedicated to providing expert advice and service. Therefore, our clients can feel assured that our focus is entirely on their needs and rights arising from the breakdown of their relationship.

Child Safety Wristbands

Why is it that children seem to inherit the skills of the famous Harry Houdini? A few seconds away from your gaze and you realize that they have performed their disappearing act. No wonder some parents resort to putting their children on leashes when they go out. They are not exactly the ones we normally use on our pets. Try tying the leash on your kid's neck and you'll have the social welfare banging on your door. There are actually those that are attached to a child's wrist to ensure that he doesn't get too far away from mommy.

Still, there are parents who think that leashes, regardless where it is attached, sound barbaric. These aren't really designed to trample on human rights, but are just created to lessen the incidence of your child getting lost or abducted.

Places that are crowded such as parks, shopping centers, zoos, airports, sports venues and the like are the possible settings that your child could get lost in. If you are in the company of more than one child, it is not convenient to use the child leash. Unless you want to get all tangled holding on to those leashes, it would be more advisable to use the child safety wristbands. These do not limit the distance that your child can wander off from you but these can reunite you with them a lot faster in case they are lost.

Child safety wristbands, which mostly come in very bright colors, are more than just a fashion statement. These are actually a part of some safety initiatives to assist parents who have lost their children in crowded places. These child safety wristbands contain the parents' contact number. This information is essential so that you can be contacted once someone finds your child.

The child safety wristbands are basically the simplest and easiest to use among all child safety gadgets, yet one of the most effective. You don't have to hold on to your child's hand all the time while you are in a place swarming with people. Just be sure to educate your child on what to do in case he doesn't see you anywhere near him. Make sure that he knows where to go and who to ask help from in case he feels that he is lost.

The child safety wristbands do not totally eliminate the possibility of an abduction or other potential dangers. But they are a faster and less stressful way of being reunited with your "lost" child once again. The responsibility of ensuring your reunion with your child does not start and end with the child safety wristbands. It is your crucial role to educate your child on how to make the wristbands work best for him.

Milos Pesic is a successful webmaster and owner of popular and comprehensive Child Safety information site. For more articles and resources on Child Safety related topics, visit his site at:

=>http://child-safety.need-to-know.net/

Nintendo 3DS - Aqua Blue

Nintendo 3DS is a groundbreaking hardware release that brings 3D gaming to the handheld market for the first time. The fourth major release in the DS product line, the Nintendo 3DS utilizes 3D Slider functionality and an improved top LCD display to present a glasses-free 3D effect on compatible games, while giving players the option to moderate the effect as they see fit. Taken together with additional features including full analog control in 3D game environments, motion and gyro sensors that transfer the movements of the handheld into the game, 3D camera functionality, an adjustable stylus and full backwards compatibility and you have not only a must-have system, but a revolution in handheld gaming.

Price: $249.99

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How Parents and Schools Make Our Children More Vulnerable to Child Predators

There are few things more disturbing than the issue of child sexual abuse. Outside the despicable act itself which physically violates children and defiles their innocence, the crime is one that continues to destroy the victim's life long after the final attack.

Crippled self-esteem and shame result in incalculable losses to our society due to poor school performance and dropouts, the likelihood of alcoholism, drug abuse, and related crime, as well as a tendency toward sexual promiscuity; which can result in prostitution, disease, and unwanted pregnancies. Sexually abused boys are more likely to become predators themselves, as well as having a fourteen times greater risk of committing SUICIDE than boys who were not molested. Victims' lives can spiral downward into welfare dependency, incarceration or utter ruin. It's reasonable to suggest the psychological and long term economic damage definitely outlasts and far outweighs the physical assault. Unfortunately, society as a whole is unknowingly complicit in this widespread tragedy.

Let's focus on two resources that offer the greatest opportunity to protect our children but who bear tremendous responsibility for not providing kids the most effective tool needed to counter sexual abuse. I'm speaking of Schools and Parents-the tool being withheld is namely useful information.

An Ineffective Layer of Protection

If the information provided to our children about Predators was sunscreen it would boast a SPF of around 4. That's enough to make us feel like we've done something, but totally ineffective against preventing them from getting burned. Now in candid defense of parents and teachers, I have yet to see any Predator Protection Program with a level greater than 4. Why not?

I have three assumptions:

1. The inherent sexuality involved makes parents squeamish and is a political nightmare for schools to tackle. The compromised work-around to this "sexual icky-ness" begets watered-down programs like "Good Touch Bad Touch" or abduction-centered education like "Stranger Danger."

2. Parents who are open to sharing greater information with their children are typically unfamiliar with the schemes and methods used by predators and thus have no new information to pass on (or any child-friendly format in which to convey it.)

3. Responsibility is easily shifted. Schools will claim it's the parent's responsibility, parents defer to law enforcement.

In the end our children are left with minimal protection against an adversary who is consistently refining their own battle plan. As we prefer to think about more pleasant topics and rest easy knowing we warned our children never to talk to strangers, predators are networking, gaining insights, sharing legal advice and refining tactics to ultimately destroy our innocent child's life. Predators are getting smarter, better organized, and now (thanks to the internet) they can find moral support in like-minded monsters who reassure them their twisted ways are not abnormal. They're reinforced that it's perfectly normal to want to abuse children; they shouldn't be ashamed of these natural feelings.

What MUST happen to defeat these monsters:

* Children rely on adults to protect them and if we are truly serious about servicing our responsibility, we must show continual vigilance against a despicable, stealthy enemy.

* We must realize the shortcomings of what we're currently providing and work to patch the tremendous gaps these Predators waltz through.

* We must acknowledge that our children are the front-line of defense and that they should be armed with as much information as is necessary to defend themselves.

* We must get over the sexual icky-ness and drag this issue out of the closet like was done with date rape and anorexia.

* We must realize that statistically our child will not tell us of an attack and thus we must use every psychological tool possible to facilitate their reporting.

* And finally we need to arm ourselves with as much information as is available so we might recognize the subtle signs of abuse that emanate from our child's demeanor, as well as the clues a predator drops right beneath our noses.

The First 3 Steps To Increasing Your Child's Predator Prevention Factor

The goal is to assist you in applying a level 60 PPF (Predator Prevention Factor) on your child... one that won't wash off but will continually empower them against getting burned. Although these steps are by no means a complete program, they are the initial absolutes needed to be covered, and require little time, money, and study.

1. GET OVER THE ICKY-NESS

Most parents are uncomfortable discussing The Birds and The Bees with their child let alone molestation and rape! As a parent, I understand this. However, you child's entire life could be ruined because of a discussion you'd rather avoid. I remember being taught in an Abnormal Psychology course the importance of teaching children the proper medical terms for their genitals. Should they ever be called to testify in court, it is nearly impossible for a defense attorney to distort the meaning of the terms Penis, Vagina, and Anus - versus Wee-wee, Cha-Cha and Booty. As adults we need to get over the fact certain anatomical parts are SEX organs. Even Oprah Winfrey cannot bring herself to say vagina. She unfortunately influences her fans and guests to refer to it as "Va-jay-jay." As parents and ADULTS, please call genitalia by its proper name and remove the associated caddy-ness when speaking of it. If you're too embarrassed to talk about it, how will your child ever find the comfort to report someone abusing those areas?

2. REPLACE FEAR WITH EMPOWERMENT

There are certain tactics a Predator uses to silence children that can be extremely upsetting for a child to hear. But unless they hear them they'll never know it's a trick, and consider how much more upsetting it will be if they first hear them from a violent, threatening abuser. You should always filter what your child is exposed to, but understand that, like a vaccine, sometimes exposing them to a tiny amount of the sickness may save them from contracting the full blown disease. Would you really consider it "too much information for a child that age" if that very information could help save their life? The prime ages for molestation are 6-12 years old. Predators are banking on the fact you think your child is too young to hear about their tricks. Danger is only scary if there's nothing you can do to prevent it. Over-censoring may seem like you're being a good parent and protecting their innocence. Truth is, you may be putting them at greater risk.

3. MAKE IT CHILD FRIENDLY

Advertising employs a variable called "frequency" to ensure a message is properly absorbed into the audience's sub/conscious. The strategy is quite literally "frequent exposure to the message." Repetition begets familiarity. A one time discussion does little to provide long-term protection for your child. Like first aid skills, the information needs to be periodically refreshed in their minds. The problem is nobody-not you, not your kids-wants to discuss and revisit abuse.

"Good teaching is one-fourth preparation and three-fourths pure theater." ~Gail Godwin

The key to imparting this information to your child while also side-stepping the sexual icky-ness is to do so with child-friendly stories that engage their fascination. Like ghost stories that arouse their full attention, we offer children books that discuss Predators in the same thrilling format. These books simultaneously entertain, educate, and empower your child and were written specifically to arm them against becoming victims. They focus on identifying, thwarting, and reporting child predators and facilitate an empowering paradigm shift from potential victim to potential hero.

The DANGER in keeping the Status Quo

* 1 in 4 girls is sexually abused before the age of 14. 1

* 1 in 6 boys is sexually abused before the age of 16. 1

* Child molestation is one of the most underreported crimes: only 1-10% are ever disclosed. 2

* An average serial child molester has between 360-380 victims in his lifetime. 3

* The most common ages of children when sexual abuse occurs are between the ages of 8 and 12. 4

The definition of insanity is often quoted as "doing the same thing and expecting different results." Until schools and parents understand the current programs aren't protecting our children, the above statistics have no reason to diminish. As loving parents and reasonable adults, we must all make ourselves part of the solution and not the problem. As political philosopher Edmund Burke forewarned over 200 years ago, "The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing."

1 Source: Hopper, J. (1998). Child Sexual Abuse: Statistics, Research, Resources. Boston, MA Boston University School of Medicine.

2 Source: FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin

3 Source: South Carolina Forcible Sex Crimes (1999). Summary, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, Columbia, SC.

4 Source: David Finkelhor et al, A Sourcebook on Child Sexual Abuse, Newbury Park: Sage Publications, 1986

Steven Carr is a writer and entrepreneur who has utilized his communications & psychology degree in the fields of sales, marketing, advertising, and now child welfare. His goal is to be a force in teaching parents and children how to stop child molestation by providing effective information to identify, thwart, and report child predators.

Cell Number Reverse Search Databases - Catch Straying Spouses and Child Predators

Cell number reverse search databases have been in existence almost as long as the cell phones themselves. Now that everyone from your doctor to your 10 year old has one those databases have been filling up fast. The good news is that while these databases contain all your information and are somewhat invasive to your privacy - you and I have the same access to these databases as everyone else.

If we only knew then what we know now

Years ago spouses who wished to stray had very little difficulty in getting away with it, or at least keeping their significant other out of the loop until it was far too late for them to do anything about it. Not so today. All it takes is a cell phone left unattended for a wife to pick through, or for a husband to pick up the mail at the post office before his wife can swipe her secret cell phone bill from it and before you know it the secret is up, done in by a cell number reverse search of the numbers he's called in the last month. She catches him calling her best friend 14 times in the last month when she have not talked to her twice... something is up. Either she is getting the birthday or anniversary present of all time or her husband is an adulterer.

To Catch a Predator

Cell number reverse search databases are an even more powerful tool if you're a parent. If you're like me you see the terrifying news stories about children abducted by people they chatted with on the internet or on the phone. It's the worst feeling in the world - I watched one of my best friends go through it just two weeks ago... nothing could possibly be more frightening.

A cell number reverse search can be the difference between thwarting an abduction before it happens and chasing your missing child when it's already too late. Put your mind at ease and see how easy it is to do a cell number reverse [http://www.squidoo.com/address-by-phone-number] search. The databases online contain billions of people related records including phone numbers and addresses. If you're particularly concerned about the people your family is talking to there is also a complete background check service with unlimited searches for less than $10/year.

If you're concerned about who your child is talking to in particular, I strongly urge you to learn about the NAR Registry. Protecting your child is considerably easier when you have the right information in your hands - and nothing is more important than protecting your children from child predators, and early intervention with a reverse cell number search can be the difference. | William G. Schultz

Alien Abductions Stopped by the Name of Jesus

Nobel prize-winning biochemist, Francis Crick, calculated the probability of a living cell forming by accident from nonliving chemicals and found the likelihood to be less than 1 in 10 to the 40,000th power. (That's a 10 with 40,000 zeroes after it!) To put that in perspective consider that the number of atoms in the known universe is only 10 to the 130th power!

What is the likelihood of finding the right atom out of all the atoms in the universe even if you picked out one atom every second for ten billion years? Life forming by chance is far less likely than that. Francis Crick didn't fall on his knees and say "there must be a God!" Instead he said that aliens (extra-terrestrials) from outer space brought life to earth.

This brings us to the question of aliens, UFOs and alien abductions. In recent years many people have come forward and said they woke up one morning with the distinct memory of being abducted by aliens and taken aboard a spacecraft. This usually happens with people who are involved in the occult or are into "New Age" belief systems. "New Age" can be defined as a westernized form of Hinduism.

Some of the "abductees" who didn't start out as New Agers to tend to adopt New Age beliefs because of the messages received from the aliens they encounter. It is the opinion of many researchers that UFO "abductions" are nothing more than demon inspired dreams and demonic encounters intended to deceive people into New Age beliefs.

Joe Jordan attended church as a child but adopted New Age beliefs through involvement with New Age literature. Joe repented and became a Christian after a Christian friend challenged him to read the Bible. He now works to expose the UFO hoax. Some time after his conversion Joe encountered the case of a man who claimed to have halted his abduction experience.

The abduction was stopped when the man called on the name of Jesus. Through further investigation Joe Jordan and a colleague discovered about 100 instances of UFO "abductions" stopped by the name of Jesus. (see "Charisma" magazine April 2001 issue p. 46) This is empirical evidence that the name of Jesus Christ is the name before which every knee must bow to the glory of God the Father!

When a Christian confronts a demon and speaks to the demon and commands it to stop in the name of Jesus, the demon will stop the abduction.

For a biblical example of the power of the name of Jesus we can read of the instance when Paul, the apostle, cast a demon out of a girl. "Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour (Acts 16:18).

If UFO abductions are mere illusions perpetrated by demons it is no wonder that they are halted by exercising spiritual authority through the name of Jesus.

"That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow ..." Philippians 2:10

Bill Nugent has written many articles on Christianity, philosophy and science. He has also written books that give Bible based teaching on sanctification and that caution against the error of legalism. His books are available at his website http://www.gracelawandsonship.com.

Personal Alarms - Protect Your Child Against Strangers

School is back -- and child predators know it.

We all tell our kids not to talk to strangers, but ... Every day the news is full of children being molested, abducted, or even killed.

We've all seen movies where a child is grabbed and taken into a car. The child never even has a chance to scream or attract attention, but will children always try to scream? What about the creep who uses the "lost puppy" story or says "Your mommy asked me to take you home because she's busy."?

Kids who hear such stories might just get into the car without a fuss.

One way to possibly help kids avoid these circumstances is by having them carry a Personal Alarm.

These are small devices that have a VERY LOUD alarm when triggered. They can be worn on belts, on the wrist, around the neck, or even attached to the child's school bag or bike. Some Personal Alarms even come as a flashlight and keychain holder. Others have flashing strobe lights for added protection to ward off attackers and signal for help.

You should demonstrate and teach your child how to use a Personal Alarm. Have him or her actually practice using it so that he's comfortable with it.

When you give your child a Personal Alarm and educate him or her on its proper use, you are giving an extra measure of safety and protection that could save that child's life.

Instruct your child to begin loudly yelling "FIRE" after he sounds the Personal Alarm. Many people will ignore the word "help", but instinctively they will respond to the word "FIRE."

Also, emphasize to your child that using a Personal Alarm is not a game! It is only to be used in case of trouble. You might tell him or her about the story of the boy who cried "wolf" and how that could happen to him.

This is NOT paranoia! There is nothing more important than your child and, as parents, we should do everything possible to protect our children in this dangerous world.

As parents we believe that our child's safety is utmost in our mind. By giving them a Personal Alarm and instructing them how to react in case of danger, you will have taken an extra step to ensure your child will come home safely each day.

Don't Let Your Child Become a Crime Statistic!

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Feel Safe and Secure is a seller of home security and self defense products, as well as wireless hidden cameras. For more information on these products, please visit http://www.feelsafeandsecure.com

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Steady As She Goes

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During their more than four decade long career Jorma and Jack have created some of the most significant music of our time and Steady As She Goes proves that they remain one of the most innovative bands in American music. Recorded at Levon Helm's studio and produced by Grammy-winning producer Larry Campbell, the album captures the energy of their live performances with Barry Mitterhoff on mandolin, drummer Skoota Warner (Cyndi Lauper, Matisyahu, Santana) as well as Campbell joining them on guitar, fiddle, organ and vocals.

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How to Protect Your Child From Abduction

Can you think of anything that is more important to you than the safety and protection of your children?

Probably not. As parents, we need to take all the steps we possibly can to provide our children all the protection we can. In only a moment, a child can be lost forever. There are steps you can take to increase the safety of your child, and there is a powerful and amazing modern Global Positioning System (GPS) technology available from AMBER ALERT GPS LLC that can help keep your child safe all the time.

*** The 4 BIGGEST ERRORS Parents Make That Put Their Children at Risk ***

These errors only increase the risk of abduction of children.

Four Child Protection Errors:

1.) Parents don't allow their children to scream.

Usually, parents teach their children to be quiet and not to cause a commotion in public. We don't want our children to misbehave and disrupt others nearby.

A child's scream is his or her first line of defense. If a predator is trying to abduct or harm your child, a good, loud, fearful scream from your child can stop the criminal dead in his tracks. Even with predators, a child's scream is unnerving. Your child's fearful scream will be heard by you and other responsible adults nearby. An "I need help!" type of scream will be heard and acted on.

Teach your child that when he or she needs to, when they are afraid of a person or situation, then a good, loud, scream is allowed. Tell your child to trust his or her gut instinct and scream. Tell your child that screaming can save his or her life, practice a scream with your child that sends out the message of "HELP"!

2.) The parents are afraid to speak up.

It is a very common experience for parents to have their child disappear from sight for a few minutes. No doubt the parents themselves performed this disappearing act on their parents once, or more times. It happens.

The mistake is holding back and not asking for help. Parents must be bold in the early minutes when a child is missing.

RAISE YOUR VOICE! Approach the supermarket or shopping mall, or other location's staff and have them use their intercom system to blast out an announcement about your missing child. Ask others nearby to help find your child. Don't be shy about this, the faster you call these techniques into your service, the faster you will find your missing child. The more eyes and ears out there looking for your child, the better.

Don't be afraid of making a false alarm. Your child's safety is the only thing to worry about. Others will understand the situation.

3.) Parents just assume their children are safe in a crowd.

Your children are not safe in a crowd. In fact, a crowd is one of the prime places for a predator to prey on children. In a crowd, a criminal can approach a child and make an abduction seem as a normal activity, what with all the noise, commotion, and distraction cover that a crowd provides. A child can be kidnapped or abducted in plain sight in a crowd.

In a crowd, stay together. Keep your child with you everywhere you go. If you try on clothes at a store, then bring the child with you to the dressing room. Don't let the child wait for you in the store, and don't trust a store clerk to be able to watch over your child for you. Go with your child to the bathroom, regardless of gender. Find a restroom where you can be alone with your child. This may not be easy, but being familiar with the places you shop or frequent can make this easier. Scout ahead and be prepared.

4.) Parents who are afraid to advertise that their children are protected.

Just as you may have "Beware of Dog" or "Security Alarm" signs or stickers on your property to warn people of a dog, or to let crooks know you have a security service monitoring your home, so should you advertise your child too is protected. Even if your "Security Alarm" sign is a fake, it still can scare off intruders because it's easier for them to move on to property where the security is definitely not present, rather than risk being caught at your property.

Russell Thornton of Amber Alert GPS LLC explains: "When Amber Alert GPS LLC was founded, we received comments to the effect that predators will simply find the GPS device and remove it after the abduction. We were told that we should hide the fact that our child has such a device on their person. We've put a lot of thought and research into this. That is why we take the "BEWARE OF BIG, MEAN, HIGH TECH DOG" sign approach. Although the GPS device is small and has no logo on it, we encourage parents to display an Amber Alert GPS sticker on their backpacks, notebooks etc. We want all predators to feel the potential risk - perceived or real. Knowing that the child can be tracked and is being monitored at all times will spoil many such attempts."

You can find security alarm stickers at stores (Radio Shack has carried them), buy some and display them on your home and property. Whether true or false, they can ward off intruders.

You can use the Amber Alert GPS child tracking device to provide safety and security for your child all the time.

Don't let it be a secret that your child is protected when you have this valuable GPS tracking and protection technology for your child. Let everyone know your child is protected with GPS tracking technology and that you know where he or she is at all times.

The Amber Alert GPS 2G is state of the art GPS tracking security for your child. I recommend this product. It will provide security and safety for your child from abduction and kidnapping. This technology can save your child's life.

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Parenting Advice on Child Safety Precautions - Scare Tactics or Essential Modern Parenting?

Thirty five years ago I was seven years old, and the 1970's were approaching. This meant meant I was an unsuspecting subject for my mother's zany sewing experiments. Floral flairs with pompom fringing. Hmmm. Back then I walked the three mile round trip to school each day, ambling along like I had all the time in the world, blatantly picking flowers out of people's front gardens to give to my teacher so she wouldn't mention I was late. I vaguely recall the occassional 'stranger danger' message, but without actual case studies child abduction formed no more a part of parenting conversations back then as did the appropriate age for teenagers to get body piercings.

One of my favourite memories of those early days was visiting my cousins, whose house was in the suburbs but backed onto the beautiful Australian bush. It was in this bushland that the enormous water pipes lay, weaving their way like giant's hoses down to the river. We would climb up the pipes and literally run for what felt like miles, stopping only occasionally when someone was coming the other way at which point we had to sidle past them precariously so as not to fall the ten foot drop to the ground. I marvel now at the freedom we had, particularly considering it was well known that lone adults frequented 'walking the pipes'.

By age ten I regularly used to roam around the local shopping centre on my own, or rode my bike to one of the numerous suburban parks with a friend or without. Our fears were of nothing, other than suffering the repercussions of arriving home late for dinner. We all knew the 'weirdo's' to look out for. The man with mental problems who was notorious for yelling strange things out to kids; the old crazy lady who pushed a shopping trolley laden with plastic bags around the streets, but who mainly mumbled to herself. These were our local 'strangers'.

It's not often I reminisce on those days, but if I do it's when I look at my daughter and fleetingly compare the joy of freedom I had, compared to what I let her do alone today. Currently in her eyes I'm the worse mum in the world because she's not allowed to walk to school by herself. I chastise her every time she wanders off from me on shopping trips; when she opens the front door when I'm hanging the clothes on the line out the back yard, or when she goes out to the front garden without my knowing. Like many mums I did this for ages without giving her a real reason why I was cross. I was reluctant to put into her little head the idea that someone may take her, for fear of terrifying her about the world we live in and the capacity for some adults to do her harm.

The world we are raising our kids in now, while still beautiful in most respects, is filled with new dangers that none of our parent's had to concern themselves with. Just where do we learn what warning's are appropriate for young minds, without affecting the intrinsic inner beauty of children who love all without judgement?

Here in Australia we've been fairly lucky compared to statistics from overseas of children being abducted. Of course the parent's of 11 year old Daniel Morcombe who disappeared in Queensland a couple of years ago, would be forgiven for not agreeing. Still today, they are madly searching for any information about how their beautiful young son could simply vanish while waiting for a bus. Frankly I don't know how they have survived it.

Just how do we raise a child who is polite and friendly, while at the same time teach them that they're not to befriend or talk to any adult when we're not next to them? How do we effectively inform them about how to handle the unlikely scenario that someone may try to take them, but at the same time not terrify them about the world and the people in it? If we want them to grow up to always see the good in people, how do we temper this with coaching them that even pleasant looking people are capable of mean things? What about fostering their independence, when our heart lurches every time we lose sight of them at the busy local pool. Like any mother I have a passionate desire to keep my child safe in this world, but I'm also determined to ensure she is able to enjoy life freely, like all children should.

The last decade has brought with it a new strain of human sexual desire, fed constantly no doubt by the ease of private access to all things perverted over the internet. Ten short years ago a certain amount of conserted effort would have been required to gain access to images designed to satiate the desires of sick individuals. Clearly that percentage has multiplied to unknown proportions, now that the ease of access has been increased for more and more people. Just what is the flow down effect of this in terms of people feeling a need to act out their sexual fantasies? Only the next couple of decades will tell.

The sad reality is that the modern world has degenerated in its pursuit of personal sexual freedom and exploration, at the expense of those who are too young to defend themselves against it. Some may say that too much concern from parents about their children's personal safety is overkill and unnecessary, based on the statistics of the number of children abducted by strangers today. But this attitude to me is the same as those who think people are ridiculous for being fearful of flying, or swimming in the ocean. Yes the likelihood is remote that harm will come our way, but as a parent, that element of remoteness is enough to keep me ever vigilant where the safety of my child is concerned.

Jo-Anne Roland is the director of AmberWatch Australia [http://amberwatchaustralia.com/], the Australian distributor of the AmberWatch. Recently featured on CNN's Youth Trend Report and currently taking the child protection world by storm, the AmberWatch is being heralded as a 'first of it's kind' child prevention/protection product. For information on the US parent company please visit [http://www.amberwatchfoundation.com/].

International Child Abduction - A Guide to the Basic Law

As the world continues to get smaller and international travel more common, areas of the law once thought to be of primarily local jurisdiction are now turning out to have international complications. Nowhere is this more evident than in the area of family law.

Marriages between citizens of differing countries can be extremely beneficial and worthwhile, but when they break down the fight over child custody and visitation can quickly become quite complex. Simply serving a legal notice of a lawsuit on a party residing in a different country can be difficult and at times expensive. Often it requires familiarity with the Hague Convention on the Service Abroad of Judicial and Extra-Judicial Documents in Civil and Commercial Matters, something few attorneys have any experience with. Further complications develop when one spouse decides to take matters into their own hands and simply disappears with the child, returning to their homeland.

In order to provide a remedy for such "abductions," the international community came up with the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. This Convention aims to protect children internationally from the harmful effects of their wrongful removal or retention and to establish procedures to ensure their prompt return to the State (i.e. country) of their habitual residence. As of this date, some 55 countries are signatories to the Convention. Some of these countries, however, are more than reluctant to comply with the terms of the Convention despite the fact that they have signed it.

Utilization of the Convention is fairly straightforward. Each country that has signed the Convention has a Central Authority to which an aggrieved parent may apply for assistance. An aggrieved parent is one whose child has been taken. That Central Authority will contact the Central Authority of the country to which the child has been taken. An attempt will then be made to locate the child and obtain a voluntary return. In the event that the parent refuses to return the child, a lawsuit is brought on behalf of the aggrieved parent to compel the return of the child.

As an example, if a child was taken from her residence in the state of Iowa and brought to London, England by her mother, the child's father would contact the U.S. Central Authority, the U.S. Department of State, Office of Children's Issues. They would assist the father in completing a Petition for Return of Child which would be filed with the Central Authority of England and Wales, the International Child Abduction and Contact Unit. The authorities in England would attempt to get the mother to return to Iowa with the child. If they were unsuccessful, then the father would bring a lawsuit against the mother in the English court system. The same process would be used if the child was resident in London, England and was wrongfully brought to the State of Iowa by her father: the mother would contact the Central Authority in London which would in turn contact the Central Authority in the United States. If unsuccessful, she would file a lawsuit in the US court where the child was located.

Once a lawsuit is filed, in order to win a case of wrongful removal or retention under the Hague Convention, the aggrieved parent must show that:

(1) the child was "habitually resident" in the country before being removed;

(2) the child's removal was in breach of the "rights of custody" of "a person, an institution or any other body;" and

(3) that those rights "were actually exercised at the time of removal or would have been so exercised in the absence of his removal." See Hague Convention, Art. 3.

As one would expect, there has been a significant amount of jurisprudence (legal theory) develop as it concerns the above terms. Courts have concluded that the term "habitually resident" refers to a child's customary residence prior to his or her removal but focuses not upon a child's domicile or legal residence but rather where the child physically lived for an amount of time sufficient for acclimatization and which has a degree of settled purpose from the child's perspective. In other words, where the child likely considered its home.

"Rights of custody,"" meanwhile, include rights relating to the care of the person of the child and, in particular, the right to determine the child's place of residence. These rights may arise by operation of law or by reason of a judicial or administrative decision, or by reason of an agreement having legal effect under the law of that State.

After the aggrieved parent has shown the court that the child was wrongfully abducted, the burden shifts to the opposing parent to show by clear and convincing evidence why the child should not be returned. Under the Convention, it is an affirmative defense if:

(1) the person seeking return of the child consented to or subsequently acquiesced in the removal or retention;

(2) the proceeding was commenced more than one year after the removal of the child;

(3) the children have become well-settled in their new environment; and

(4) there is a grave risk that the return of the children would expose them to physical or psychological harm.

Court decisions on this matter are quite clear that acquiescence under the Convention requires either an act or statement with the requisite formality, such as testimony in a judicial proceeding; a convincing written enunciation of rights; or a consistent attitude of acquiescence over a significant period of time. Acquiescence has been held to be a question of subjective intent. Many lawsuits in international child abduction matters focus upon whether or not one of the parents agreed or consented to the removal of the child.

Parents should be aware of the "one year" defense. Commencement of proceedings, as used in Article 12 of the Convention, means the filing of a civil petition for relief in any court which has jurisdiction in the place where the child is located at the time the petition is filed. Once the location of the child is known, the clock starts to run. However, Article 12 goes on to state that "even where the proceedings have been commenced after the expiration of the period of one year..., [the court] shall also order return of the child, unless it is demonstrated that the child is now settled it its new environment." Hague Convention, Article 12. As for this "well settled" exception, it should be noted that the court retains the discretion to order the children returned even if an exception applies. Nor is a court obligated to take into account the child's wishes.

Finally, Article 13(b) of the Hague Convention allows a court to deny return of a child to the country of habitual residence if "there is a grave risk that his or her return would expose the child to physical or psychological harm or otherwise place the child in an intolerable situation." Generally speaking, such a risk arises in two situations: (1) imminent danger such as war, famine, or disease; or (2) when there is likely to be serious abuse or neglect and the court in the country of habitual residence, for whatever reason, may be incapable or unwilling to give the child adequate protection. As a parent, you will be expected to provide compelling evidence that the child will in all likelihood be in danger if returned.

As should be no surprise, international child abduction matters are extremely complex, both in legal substance and procedure. In the unfortunate event that your child has been abducted, you should contact an attorney experienced in the area of international child abduction immediately. Time is of the essence, and a quick response can often be the difference between a voluntary return of the child and a long, expensive court battle in a foreign country.

For additional information concerning International Child Abduction, please see the U.S. Department of State, Office of Children's Issues: http://www.travel.state.gov/abduction/abduction_580.html

For assistance in locating qualified lawyers, please see http://www.critellilaw.com

Toothprints Lead Way in Child Identification

Dental characteristics are unique to each individual. Not even identical twins carry the same dental characteristics. This distinctive trait has led to the creation of a new way to safeguard your children, the Toothprints® dental ID.

Dental records are often a prime source of identification, but with the incidence of tooth decay on the decline, today's children have fewer and fewer cavities, resulting in limited dental records. Parents can now use this valuable innovation to protect their children from being lost or abducted.

The Toothprints dental ID is a horseshoe-shaped soft wafer that can record the unique dental characteristics of each child. The child bites into the wafer to record individual tooth characteristics and tooth position within the arch. The device also collects a saliva sample, an effective tool for scent-dog tracking. Dental professionals recommend the first Toothprint be taken at age 3 with updates at least twice during childhood, generally between ages 7-8 and 12-13. Parents keep the Toothprints themselves for quick access and confidentiality. According to statistics compiled by the U.S. Department of Justice in late 2002, nearly 800,000 children are reported missing every year with 58,000 of those being abducted by nonfamily members. This new form of identification comes on the heels of President George W. Bush's signing into law the PROTECT act, which created the nationally recognized AMBER (America's Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response) Alert system.

Dr. David A. Tesini, an associate clinical professor at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, researched the Toothprints bite impression in July 2003 and concluded the effectiveness of Toothprints. One study had shown that a Toothprint that had been swabbed in the routine manner as for all general forensic samples could produce an obtainable genetic profile nearly three years after it was taken. The sample Toothprint had been immediately placed in a Ziploc bag after it was taken and stored unrefrigerated in a normal home environment.

Tesini also noted the importance of the saliva DNA sample on the wafer. He referenced a test in Las Vegas in 2002 where scent dogs were given a month old, dried wafer. The dogs were still able to locate the individual hiding in a paint closet on the basement floor of an eight-story building, all within 10 minutes.

These bite impressions are acknowledged as a key component in child identification by many groups including law enforcement officials, school boards, dental professionals and missing children organizations. Toothprints only takes a few minutes, and a few minutes are worth a parent's piece of mind, and possibly, a child's life. Contact your local orthodontist or dentist for more details on Toothprints.

Avis Ward of AWard Consulting, LLC

Avis Ward is a Dental Marketing Consulting specializing in Orthodontics.

More information about Avis can be found here: http://aviswardconsulting.com/ or Avis Ward Avis invites you to view her blog.