LIBERTY, Mo. — The Adriaunna Horton story has raised awareness about the dangers facing kids in today’s world. Many parents preach to their children the importance of not getting in a car with a stranger, but what about someone they know?
Beth Brownell said it will forever change how she talks to her kids about “stranger danger” because in fact, a predator may not be a stranger at all, as it appears in the case of 12-year-old Horton from Golden City, Mo. Her accused kidnapper is a man who police said worked for her father.
“It actually infuriates me that someone a child trusted could do something like that,” she said. “It was a wake up call to me that I need to have that conversation again with my kids to let them know exactly what to do if that situation were to ever, hopefully never, occur.”
Brownell remembers her first talk with each of her three children and she has ways of making sure her safety lessons don’t go in one ear and out the other.
“I do have a special needs son who is easily distracted and wanders off and he knows the rules and I’ve even had it tested where someone has seen him by himself, and I wasnt far away, and has actually approached him and he walked away,” she said.
Doctor Jane Sosland, a psychologist at the University of Kansas Medical Center reported that parents need to pay close attention to a child’s temperament and maturity level when preaching and teaching safety.
“There are some kids who are naturally anxious and worry to begin with, so we don’t want to make them more afraid than they need be,” Dr. Sosland said.
She explained the conversation should start at a young age and be ongoing, with more details included as time goes on. However, a complication will always exist–and Horton’s story is a reminder of what’s missing from the typical discussion dealing with a stranger approaching your child.
“That’s an easier thing to teach kids than ‘Hey, you’ve seen this guy working with your dad and you shouldn’t get in a car with him.’ That’s not even something that would come up in conversation,” said Dr. Sosland.
The answer, she said, is constant communication–something Brownell said she’ll be kicking up a notch to keep her kids safe.
“There really are monsters out there and that’s why you have parents to prevent those monsters from getting close to you,” said Brownell.
Dr. Sosland said if your child asks you about the 12-year old’s disappearance or a similar case, ask them first what they know, and then explain from there. She said it’s important not to get too detailed unless it serves a purpose.