It was also the 'fully' that triggered my response.

How many times have you seen parents force their kids to do something that they don't want to do, just because it prevents embarrassment to THEM? Many/most kids aren't protected by their parents as much as OWNED by them. Every command to their kid is determined by the parent -- the kid has no say.

Teach your kids to just politely say, 'No, thank you' when they are told/asked to kiss or hug or whatever someone that they aren't comfortable with. If parents were given the kind of commands they give their kids, they would go ballistic.

By the way, the most popular way kids are grabbed by strangers appears to be the 'puppy or kitty' routine. 'I've got some puppies in my car, do you want to see them?' 'I've lost my little baby kitty, can you help me find him?' 'I've got a pony down the street that you can ride if you want to.'

Check out the labeled child molesters in your area. I've got one two blocks away.

p.s. Maybe 'self defense training' would be better than 'martial arts training' when the time comes.

Sue

Texas is pretty good at listing sex/child predators on the web. You are lucky you only have one two blocks away. We've got three. <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

On the downside, Houston got flooded (er...) with offenders from Hurricane Katrina that aren't currently registered. *sigh*

Giles: Yes, it's terribly simple. The good guys are always stalwart and true, the bad guys are easily distinguished by their pointy horns or black hats, and, uh, we always defeat them and save the day. No one ever dies, and everybody lives happily ever after.
Buffy: Liar.

-Blast

Here's my take on the issues in this thread:

Martial Arts for a 3 year old
At this age, martial arts or other sports activites for this age are about (a) parents fulfilling their own dreams through their kids and (b) fun activities for the kid. For example, mom or dad really likes a particular sport or activity and so gets junior involved. If mom or dad really wants junior to continue the activity, they best make sure that it is fun for him or her. (Sometimes mom and dad have different ideas about what sport junior should be enrolled in, but that's a different issue.)


Trusting Strangers (versus Friends), and Parental Presence
Strangers are not to be trusted. You expect them to conform to the rules of a polite society (and should be polite in return); however, you keep your distance from them (physical and in conversation), just in case they don't. When you get to know someone, he or she can become a friend (and trusted). Normally it takes time to build a friendship, but sometimes the process can be faster if a parent or other really trusted person vouches for them.

A stranger is a stranger, whether or not a parent is around.
A friend is a friend, whether or not a parent is around.

And there are some rules of behavior that apply to everyone, even friends and family. Private body parts remain private, even from friends.

Forcing Kids to Be More Familar with Someone
If a kid doesn't want to talk to, hug, accept gifts from someone that a parent wants her to, the kid should be empowered (both taught and allowed) to decline politely. And hiding or scowling is not polite.

-Kuovonne

Just teach her to bite, kick & scream. I don't think that a judo throw is going to work if the bad guy has picked her up.

It might be worth teaching her the basics of how to break someones grasp by rotating her hand against the thumb joint or attacking the little fingers. I started that game with my daughter when she was about 4 and to outsiders, that's exactly what it looked like but it began teaching her how joints workand in what direction they don't like moving. Now at 16, it's Krav Maga and any other nasty ideas we can come up with.
At the end of the day, anything is better than nothing.

Welcome to the fire BadFrog! Those are some good tips, I like the way you think...

-Blast

Yet another dead thread resurrected from the archives.

BadFrog...Welcome to the party...Jump in with both feet and have fun!! Joint work is amazing. My Sensei really is outstanding at it. We learned a bunch. I hate it because my joint are super sensitive. Training really put the hurt on them. I'd rather take a punch or kick anytime.

Blast...I didn't read the posts but...I would join the classes with your daughter/s. That way they see that it is important that DF knows how to take of himself. I know that at 6-foot plus you are not a target, but the kids need the reinforcement. I am a 6-1 225-ish guy, not necessarily a target, can take a pretty good thumpin' and still hold my own but the training was fun anyway. The Black Belt Test was an interesting event. I made it through as a 44 yr-old despite knee and shoulder surgery during training.

Final note: Self defense is combat, hence a martial art. It is just a matter of which techniques you choose to use.

Auughhhh, Zombies! Quick, somebody notify Christina!

-Blast

Since we ressurected the thread, how about an update on what you actually decided to do?