This is Missing Children’s Day in Iowa and state officials are encouraging parents to take part in a program called "Take 25." Jim Saunders, a spokesman for the Iowa Department of Public Safety, says it’s part of a national campaign that has a simple premise and a significant impact.
Saunders says, "Take 25 minutes on the 25th of each month to sit down and talk to your kids about a variety of things that will help keep them safe." He says to teach the very young kids their full name, address and phone number, as well as to whom they should give that information if they become lost.
Saunders says kids also need to learn their parents’ full names — beyond Mom and Dad. With summer approaching, some older children will be left alone in the home daily while their parents are at work. Saunders says staying in close contact is key.He says parents need to communicate with their kids during the day, know who they’ll be hanging out with, where they’ll be and what they’ll be doing, while kids need to call their parents if there’s a change in plans.
Saunders says another potential trouble spot that should be addressed is the computer.
He says one in five kids who use the Internet have been sexually solicited on-line, so it’s important parents know where their kids are surfing on-line. He says there’s a variety of software and filters that can help do just that. For more tips, visit the Take 25 website .
