Threat Lure

Threatening a child with bodily harm or threatening to harm a child's family or friends is another underhanded method employed by predators.

These threats usually occur in a secluded area where interruption or possible intercession by a casual passerby is unlikely.

When alone and confronted by a person who is much larger, children become frightened and often succumb to the threats in order to avoid anyone being hurt. The predator relies on the child's fear to work as both a motivator to do what he wants and a silencer to avoid detection.

(Children should be aware of their surroundings at all times, avoiding the rear of buildings and fields. Children, regardless of the threat, should immediately inform their parents when threatened)

Threat Lure Scenarios

Scenario 1

You're walking alongside a building when suddenly a man comes up from behind you and holds you against the building with his body. While he's holding you, he threatens you that if you tell anyone, he'll make sure that you'll never walk again. What would you do?

Scenario 2

You're walking through a crowd of people when someone grabs your arm and pulls you around the corner. He then tells you that you will do everything he wants or he'll severely hurt your mother. What would you do?

Scenario 3

You're talking to a man in the park when he asks you to do something strange. You feel funny about what he wants you to do when he grabs you and tells you that if you tell anyone, he'll break both your legs. What would you do?

Keeping Distance and Running Away When Threatened

A child is no physical match for an adult. If threatened, fighting is never an option. Even if involved in Martial Arts or some other form of self defense training, children should be taught to quickly retreat - not fight. There are several preventive actions children can take when confronted with a potentially dangerous situation.

Teach your child to maintain a ten to fifteen-foot distance from a threatening person or vehicle. This will give the child more time to react should they need to flee. Also, children should know to run like the wind should they feel something is wrong or if someone is trying to grab them. Finally, children should know how to scream for help at the top of their lungs.

Scenario 1

A man pulls up next to you in a car or truck and tries to get you to come over to his car. What would you do?

Scenario 2

You're at the park with some friends when a man starts trying to talk to you while coming closer and closer to you. What would you do?

Scenario 3

A man pulls up in his car, gets out and starts walking towards you. What would you do?

Scenario 4

You're walking on the sidewalk when a man stops his car real quick, gets out and starts running towards you. What would you do?

Let NAK Martial Arts Center help! We continually teach our students about staying safe in our children's self defense clinics as well as our regular children's martial arts program. Call us today at 480-632-7833 schedule a FREE PRIVATE LESSON