Every parent worries about a creepy guy in a van snatching their child -- but the experts say that's not what typical predators look or act like. "Most offenders use coercion and manipulation, not force," says Dr. Cindy Christian, a pediatrician specializing in child abuse at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Child Abuse and Neglect. Here are the things you need to do, know and teach your kids to help keep them safe.
Know Where the Real Danger Lies
Despite what you see on the news, stranger abductions are incredibly rare. The bad news is that between 86 and 92 percent of violence against children is at the hands of someone they know, says Sax. As you're teaching your kids to trust their own guts, don't forget to monitor yours. If a person or situation feels unsafe to you, it's not worth taking a risk.
