Studies recommend discussing 'stranger danger' at bus stop, trip to school with young students

As parents discuss safety with their children, one often overlooked situation could require extra attention when discussing "stranger danger."

Students should be reminded of the importance of the potential dangers of abduction when traveling to and from school. From bus stops to walking home, parents should address the dangers students may face as they travel alone and open a dialogue on what to do in a dangerous situation.

Recent incident: Coraopolis man arrested in attempted kidnapping of 9-year-old from school bus stop

A common tactic for child abduction is to target children as they travel to and from school, often while they are by themselves. Kidnappers will approach the child on the street or from their car, luring them away by offering a ride, gifts or assistance in finding animals.

While often overlooked when discussing 'stranger danger' with children, the trip to and from the bus stop can still be targeted by those attempting to lure children into their cars.
While often overlooked when discussing 'stranger danger' with children, the trip to and from the bus stop can still be targeted by those attempting to lure children into their cars.

According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, 67% of abductions occur from a suspect driving a vehicle. This data is supported by 65% of abductions occurring while on the street, but this data also reflects individuals targeting bus stops and outside of homes during 12% of kidnappings.

In general, this style of luring targets over the past decade has been aimed at younger children, usually around elementary and middle school-aged. While high school-age students are still targeted, these attempts are more likely to shift to physical altercations rather than an enticement.

Other signs of potential child luring can involve unexpected individuals and strangers lingering around bus stops or taking pictures of children in the area. In these situations, children should tell an adult about the situation and the authorities should be notified of the individual's behavior.

The NCMEC recommends knowing the routes that your child takes to the bus stop and home from school. Along the way, parents should point out potentially dangerous areas to avoid and identify where their children can go if they do not feel safe.

Another way to help identify risks is through roleplaying, allowing children to respond to the situation and guiding them through an encounter. Throughout this process, parents can also practice yelling and fighting back captors with their child, which can help identify others in the area to a kidnapping situation.

Parents should make it clear that children should not talk to strangers approaching them at the bus stop and they should run away to find a trusted adult. They should never accept rides or go anywhere with somebody they do not know.

Children should also be prepared to act without an adult present, knowing important phone numbers and how to identify themselves in case of emergencies. Youngsters should feel comfortable calling the police and explaining situations where they don't feel safe around strangers.

In addition to busing, parents should make it clear who is allowed to pick up their child at schools and daycares. If someone not on this list tries to pick up a child, teachers and caretakers should notify parents before letting the child leave their care.

While strangers pose a risk, experts also agree that talking to your child about the potential harm from people they know is equally important. Children are becoming more aware of the dangers of strangers, but the number of children targeted by someone they know continues to rise across the country.

No matter who approaches them, children are encouraged to discuss events that make them feel uncomfortable or unsafe with an adult. Safety experts at NCMEC encourage parents to teach their kids to say "no" and speak out when they are uncomfortable in a situation, regardless of who is involved.

Garret Roberts is the local Public Priority reporter for The Beaver County Times. He can be contacted at groberts1@gannett.com and can be followed on Twitter at @ReportedRoberts.

This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Data shows stranger danger can occur at bus stops, trip home from school