Coventry area, where I teach my child self-protection classes. The reasons behind child abductions vary as much as the potential abductors, which is why the way we educate children needs to progress.
When I was a child we were all fed the old “Stranger Danger” gimmick to protect us from being abducted. Even when I began teaching my child self-defence classes, I gave talks on the danger of talking with strangers. The truth of the matter is that this form of education is nonsense and as soon as I researched the issue common sense made me re-evaluated how and what I taught. It is nonsense for two very good reasons. Firstly from an overwhelming statistical point of view, most attacks and abuse against children are perpetrated by those who the children know. Secondly children are encouraged, and rightfully so, to talk with strangers be they police, security guards or even teachers who they meet for the first time in a school. When children are lost they often need to speak to strangers, be they shopkeepers or mothers accompanied by children. So, straight away the societal norm of “Danger Stranger” sends out a mixed message.
The best skills children can learn are those that involve being aware and in having the right attitude. In a time where children and adults alike are bombarded with mass media, aggressive advertising and other distractions, we face an uphill battle to teach children to observe and be switched on as much as possible. However, what should not be taught is paranoia. At CCMA we regularly cover the difference between being unaware, aware and being paranoid. By teaching children how to listen to their “gut feeling” or intuition they learn a type of survivalist independence, which then influences their attitude.
Attitude is addressed in teaching children confidence and in having the right mindset. This can be developed through motivational conversations and in taking part in activities where children can confirm their abilities to make a difference. At CCMA we deal with realistic self-protection on a regular basis. It is a part of all the activities children participate. Activities vary from a simple game of tig, where children understand the importance of evasion, through to full-contact anti-abduction scenarios, where they get a chance to test their skills against a resisting adult.
For more details on the CCMA methods for teaching children click on the following link. http://www.clubbchimera.com/?p=14
A fantastic book that deals with issues discussed in this article is Gavin De Becker’s “Protecting the Gift”:
https://www.gavindebecker.com/books-ptg.cfm