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That's what I wanted to start with, just the "foundation". I've been wanting them to learn something like this for ages, and the news from this week is what finally prompted my procrastinating fingers to dial the number. It's a start.

I've gone over this with my kids a million times since they were toddlers. "Don't talk to anyone". "If someone grabs you, what ever you do, don't get in that car....scream, bite, scratch, kick, hit, scratch their eyes out, pull their hair, kick their reproductive organs, hit them in the nose with the palm of your hand, scream "fire", etc.....but don't get in the car". Now I want them to learn how to literally defend themselves, if needed. Any suggestions?

That's what I wanted to start with, just the "foundation". I've been wanting them to learn something like this for ages, and the news from this week is what finally prompted my procrastinating fingers to dial the number. It's a start.

I've gone over this with my kids a million times since they were toddlers. "Don't talk to anyone". "If someone grabs you, what ever you do, don't get in that car....scream, bite, scratch, kick, hit, scratch their eyes out, pull their hair, kick their reproductive organs, hit them in the nose with the palm of your hand, scream "fire", etc.....but don't get in the car". Now I want them to learn how to literally defend themselves, if needed. Any suggestions?

Their ages, and general physical condition/size? Athletic, or sports inclined? Male? Female? Give me a bit of an idea, and I'll try to point you toward something in your area.

-archy-/-

Another suggestion: emphasize to your children over and over again, preferably with some role-playing activities, that if someone tries to get hold of them, whether in their own home, outside, pulling them into a car, whatever -- don't hesitate, don't doubt yourself even for a second, fight with all your might IMMEDIATELY.

Kids, especially young ones and well-behaved older ones, are naturally inclined to give adults the benefit of the doubt. When somebody tells them "your mom told me to pick you up", they'll stop to think about whether it might be true, and whether they might get in trouble for not going with "mom's friend". Let your kids know they will NOT be in trouble if they kick somebody claiming to be "mom's friend" in the groin, even it turns out that it really WAS mom's friend that she sent to pick you up in an emergency. Let them know that you and any adults you associate with would back off after one good kick, punch, or scream, and will understand that the child wasn't sure and felt threatened, and fought hard as he/she had been taught to. Burn it into their brains that it's bad NOT to fight hard and immediately.