AUSTIN, Texas — After a series of recent attempted child abductions across central Texas, families might be searching for ways to keep their children safe.
“My kids are grown, but we had those conversations when they were growing up, but it’s still a problem,” said Diane, a parent and Grandparent.
She’s referring to conversations about child safety and the reality that predators are still a threat.
“As a parent, it makes me nervous for the safety of the children,” said Justin Walter, who has a 16-month-old son.
Several incidents in Round Rock, Leander, Hutto, and Austin in early April share similarities, according to investigators. In one case, children reported that two masked men tried to lure them into a van with candy.
“We know it’s not good if you don’t know a child and you’re trying to pick them up,” said Amanda Van Hoozer, chief program officer at the Center for Child Protection. “Something bad is going to come from that.”
Van Hoozer recommends prioritizing safety conversations, even if it’s during a car ride home from school.
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“Just making sure that your kids know that you want them to be safe, that there are things out there in the world that can hurt them, and it’s okay to talk about those things,” she said.
Austin-based security expert Spencer Coursen agrees, saying preparation is the best tool a child can have.
“You want to prepare them with tools and resources in a skill set that will allow them to prepare for those realities,” Coursen said. “Then you want to give them the permission, your permission, to say no to if they don’t feel comfortable leaving a situation.”
Coursen said child safety isn’t about the latest gadget but preparation.
“A prepared child is a competent child, a competent child is a confident child, and a confident child is the safest child,” he said.
For families considering safety tools or gadgets, experts suggest choosing ones that are age-appropriate and easy to use.
“The ones that I always recommend are gonna be the ones that you can use with, with muscle memory and familiarity,” Coursen said.
These could include kids’ smart watches, safety alarm keychains, or Apple AirTags.
“I think I would feel better knowing that I was able to figure out where he was,” said Walter.
The U.S. Department of Education recommends setting clear boundaries with children about where they can go and who they can be with, encouraging the use of the “buddy system,” and reminding them to always trust their instincts.
“Just be involved with your kids,” Diane said. “Don’t rely on anybody else to do it for you.”
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