Editor's Note: We've heard a lot in the news lately of children being abducted and thought that we should do our best to help inform you, Auntie, on ways you can help prevent any child you love from ever being abducted. We know this isn't a happy subject, but one that's important to all of us.

Hopefully parents are already discussing childhood abductions and how to prevent them as soon as their kids are old enough to understand the topic, but we all know that our nieces and nephews are often willing to give our words special attention.  For this reason, Savvy Aunties should be active participants in teaching it.  Here are some methods to help assist the process:

Make a Game of It

Abduction is not fun.  The issue can be frightening.  Playing a game, though, can help you discuss it in a way that takes the “edge” off.  In our family, we have a board game called Safetyville.  Among other things, this game asks challenging questions about how to handle various scenarios with strangers and other potential abductors.  I have found this to be a great way to cover many safety tips and concepts with ease.  In addition, I have learned a few things myself.

Object Lessons and Stories

Object lessons and stories can be powerful tools in an auntie’s arsenal of instruction.   Especially for young children, the concepts of kidnapping and kidnappers can be a bit abstract.  Object lessons and stories are a great way to put these ideas in more concrete form.  Find some stuffed animals and an alarm of some sort.  Have the animals find themselves in precarious situations.  Set off the alarm to signify “danger” or to signify the difficult-to-describe “uncomfortable” feeling that the animal feels when placed in that situation.  
The animals can also be used to re-enact a kidnapping or demonstrate techniques for escaping a kidnapper’s grasp.  This is advisable for extremely sensitive children who are easily frightened.  Using the stuffed animals rather than examples of real children may help soften a notion that is rather terrifying in nature.

Some resources that I have found helpful in giving specific safety techniques for these make-believe situations are:

http://childcare.about.com/od/childsafet1/qt/strangerdanger.htm
http://www.bobstuber.com/abduction.htm

Role Play

Practice often makes an action more automatic.  This is why my dad used this method a lot in teaching me about abductors.  He would take me to actual places that were common in abductions (the mall, a schoolyard, a playground, or a sidewalk that I frequented).  Once there, he would explain that he was going to pretend to be a kidnapper.  I was expected to practice doing what I should when a kidnapper tried to entice me to go with him.  As a result, I was very familiar with practices often employed by abductors, appropriate responses in each situation and actions I could take to escape if I were grabbed.  I also developed a more natural instinct concerning awareness of my surroundings and keeping a healthy distance when approached by strangers for directions or help.  If you use this method, though, you need to inform others around you of what you are doing before you begin.  If you don’t, you might find yourself in a sticky situation when your role-playing draws attention and police are notified of an attempted abduction.

The Standard Heart-to-Heart

There is a time and place for casual conversation, but this topic necessitates serious consideration.  Therefore, a heart-felt talk is often appropriate.  With older kids, this may be the only way you can approach the topic at all.    

Try to create an environment where you will have your niece or nephew’s full attention.  You don’t want important details to be lost in the distraction of surrounding noise, visual stimulation or outside events.  Another good idea is to create an environment where they’ll be comfortable.  Depending on the child, this may require a place that is completely secluded like your living room.  For others the comfort factor may be amongst others such as a quiet coffee shop.  

Final Tips

The most effective aunties will use a combination of these methods to teach safety. Learning about it in a variety of ways is the surest way to cover all types of learning styles.  It is also best to be gradual and consistent in addressing childhood abduction.  The subject is broad, and children can get overwhelmed by it.  Just take it in small “bites.”  If you do these things, you will be among the savviest of aunties in helping those youngsters be aware of their own safety.