Equipped To Survive Equipped To Survive® Presents
The Survival Forum
Where do you want to go on ETS?

Page 2 of 2 < 1 2
Topic Options
#227863 - 07/14/11 09:21 PM Re: Teaching Children To Survive In The World [Re: Jesselp]
bws48 Offline
Old Hand

Registered: 08/18/07
Posts: 831
Loc: Anne Arundel County, Maryland
Just a couple of ideas to consider, child or even an adult:

1. Stay in a public place in sight of people. DO NOT go off with a stranger no matter how nice, interesting, helpful or whatever they say. Just say no. OK to talk to them, but don't go with them.

2. In an urban setting, go into a busy store and ask the employees for help. If they can't or will not help, ask a customer in sight and hearing of other customers. Observe rule 1; don't go off alone with a stranger.

3. It is OK to call the police/fire department/EMS, or to have someone call them for you. They need to understand that they will not be arrested or get into trouble. I don't think there is a LEO, firefighter, or EMT who would get angry at a lost child who needed their help to get home safely. It is OK to go with the police/firefighters/EMT IF they are in uniform and in a marked vehicle. This is the only exception to rule 1. No "undercover" police need apply.

Hope these ideas might be helpful. They are not original to me. Mom and Dad taught me them in the 1950s.
_________________________
"Better is the enemy of good enough."

Top
#227865 - 07/14/11 09:37 PM Re: Teaching Children To Survive In The World [Re: Jesselp]
LesSnyder Offline
Pooh-Bah

Registered: 07/11/10
Posts: 1680
Loc: New Port Richey, Fla
my background is with adolescents (14 -17 year high school students) older than those in the OP's discussion...but the problem persists with them also... situational awareness education is not included as a measurable academic standard, and should be...

I see three common manifestations...peripheral vision blocking "hoodies", the ever popular music ear phones (ear bud) and the current "texting" phenomenon... they become self absorbed, and oblivious to personal danger ...we had several near accidents in the parking lot at school dismissal... inattention by both drivers and walking students

I included the OODA loop as part of my decision making curriculum

Top
#227874 - 07/15/11 05:05 AM Re: Teaching Children To Survive In The World [Re: Jesselp]
Chisel Offline
Veteran

Registered: 12/05/05
Posts: 1563
Still shaking from the horrible story, but here is my idea of "agreeing" to something like this. I would tell the kid (OK) but will (a) ask him to put a whistle in his pocket and (b) I will remotely accompany him . I would walk on the other side of the street some 30 yards behind him.

May not be ideal and maybe seen as "overly protective" but for a 9 year oild, and first time, that is how I do it.

That is what I did for example when my then-14-yo son asked to do some electrical wiring. I let him do it while I was watching. Now he does it alone.

Sometimes my younger son (who is rather aggressive and loves driving but smaller in size) asks to go somewhere. I OK that, but ask him to take his older brother, who is less aggressive, but taller. It provides the younger one some protection, while it exposes the older son to some life realities.

Top
#227897 - 07/15/11 10:47 PM Re: Teaching Children To Survive In The World [Re: Jesselp]
Byrd_Huntr Offline
Old Hand

Registered: 01/28/10
Posts: 1174
Loc: MN, Land O' Lakes & Rivers ...
Only a parent can be the judge of their childs maturity level. I have seen teens who are oblivious to their surroundings, and I have also seen 9 and 10 year olds who are surprisingly astute.

My son is now a military policeman and daughter is a pre-med student. They are both very aware of their surroundings. We started early and discussed these issues with them eg: What would you do if a stranger said "Your mother is in trouble and she asked me to bring you there". Or what would you do if a stranger tried to touch you? Are there some places you should not go alone? etc. You don't have to go into the grisly tales of the abductions, as 'they might try to take you' will probably be sufficient motivation.

We still discuss current events and situations with the college age daughter, but the son carries a rifle and a pistol, an asp and mace with him at work and faces different kinds of danger. The daughter is not paranoid, but very aware and always keeps her car door locked and the tank full, and has a cell phone, mace (in hand), and a whistle with her when walking the campus.
_________________________
The man got the powr but the byrd got the wyng

Top
#227911 - 07/16/11 05:10 AM Re: Teaching Children To Survive In The World [Re: Jesselp]
Denis Offline
Addict

Registered: 01/09/09
Posts: 631
Loc: Calgary, AB
When my kids were younger, they took part in a Jui Jitsu class that had a really good self-defence component built into it.

They did do standard Jui Jitsu curriculum & played games, but also covered things like:
  • Defence techniques to avoid being carried away; first running away, but then things like dropping to the ground 'turtle-back' & kicking, using legs to push off & avoid getting forced in a car, 'computer' stuns, etc. When doing this they were taught to yell "This is not my parent" to help any bystanders realize this isn't just a kid throwing a tantrum.
  • Review of common lures used by predators; this included an oft repeated "adults don't ask kids for help, adults ask adults for help."
  • Who to ask help from; safe strangers.
  • How to call 911.
  • To flood a sink if trapped in an apartment bathroom.

Those are some of the things that stick out in my memory at least.
_________________________
Victory awaits him who has everything in order — luck, people call it. Defeat is certain for him who has neglected to take the necessary precautions in time; this is called bad luck. Roald Amundsen

Top
#227925 - 07/16/11 08:53 PM Re: Teaching Children To Survive In The World [Re: Jesselp]
Susan Offline
Geezer

Registered: 01/21/04
Posts: 5163
Loc: W. WA
Eons ago, a LEO gave a talk at my grade school about strangers. He said the most common way to get a kid to go with you is to use a puppy or kitten as bait.

They don't even need to have one with them, they ask if the kid wants one. He's got too many, he's going to take it to the pound where it will be put to sleep, they're really cute, take it home and see if your mom will let you keep it, etc.

And I wouldn't be surprised if it's still the path of least resistance. Give your kids examples of how a stranger might approach them. Just like thinking about how you would get out of different survival situations, get your kids to think.

And make them understand that if someone does grab them, to hit, kick and bite as hard as they can; don't be afraid to hurt a kidnapper! Girls, esp, used to be encouraged to be 'ladylike'. Even now, many women really hesitate to fight back because of that indoctrination. Stupid, isn't it?

Sue

Top
#227960 - 07/17/11 01:50 PM Re: Teaching Children To Survive In The World [Re: Susan]
Byrd_Huntr Offline
Old Hand

Registered: 01/28/10
Posts: 1174
Loc: MN, Land O' Lakes & Rivers ...
Originally Posted By: Susan
.......hit, kick and bite as hard as they can; don't be afraid to hurt a kidnapper! Girls, esp, used to be encouraged to be 'ladylike'. Even now, many women really hesitate to fight back because of that indoctrination. Stupid, isn't it? Sue


"hit, kick and bite as hard as they can", In my family, that IS ladylike!
_________________________
The man got the powr but the byrd got the wyng

Top
Page 2 of 2 < 1 2



Moderator:  Alan_Romania, Blast, cliff, Hikin_Jim 
November
Su M Tu W Th F Sa
1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
Who's Online
1 registered (Phaedrus), 774 Guests and 27 Spiders online.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Newest Members
Aaron_Guinn, israfaceVity, Explorer9, GallenR, Jeebo
5370 Registered Users
Newest Posts
Leather Work Gloves
by KenK
11/24/24 06:43 PM
Satellite texting via iPhone, 911 via Pixel
by Ren
11/05/24 03:30 PM
Emergency Toilets for Obese People
by adam2
11/04/24 06:59 PM
For your Halloween enjoyment
by brandtb
10/31/24 01:29 PM
Chronic Wasting Disease, How are people dealing?
by clearwater
10/30/24 05:41 PM
Things I Have Learned About Generators
by roberttheiii
10/29/24 07:32 PM
Newest Images
Tiny knife / wrench
Handmade knives
2"x2" Glass Signal Mirror, Retroreflective Mesh
Trade School Tool Kit
My Pocket Kit
Glossary
Test

WARNING & DISCLAIMER: SELECT AND USE OUTDOORS AND SURVIVAL EQUIPMENT, SUPPLIES AND TECHNIQUES AT YOUR OWN RISK. Information posted on this forum is not reviewed for accuracy and may not be reliable, use at your own risk. Please review the full WARNING & DISCLAIMER about information on this site.