What would you do if a stranger tried to take your child who was eating in a restaurant, in broad daylight?
On August 3, a mom shared on Facebook a harrowing experience her family had in a shopping mall in Quezon City.
Mommy Princess dela Cruz Palma granted Smart Parenting permission to share her story to raise awareness. Smart Parenting editors made minor edits for clarity.
"It happened yesterday (August 2) around 1 PM. Harap-harapan sa [mall]," Princess wrote in a post that now has over 17K reactions and 24K shares.
"While waiting for our food to be served, Rhian (Princess' daughter) [was] just standing in front of her seat. Then someone approached her, 'Kim! Kim! Tara!'"
Princess mentioned that the stranger tried to grab her daughter's hand.
"Napatayo ako at tinapik [yung] kamay niya, sabay sabi niya, “Anak mo?” I said “OO!”
Then the man just walked away, unbothered, as if nothing happened. "Like, “WHAAAATTT SOMEONE ATTEMPTED TO TAKE MY CHILD!” she wrote. In the comment section, Princess clarified that the man looked "normal" and "mukhang sanay."
"Sobrang kaba ko, hindi na ako makaupo. Naghihintay akong may dumaan na guard para sabihan, Si Lan (Princess' husband) nasa kabilang store bumibili ng food. So when he came sinabi ko agad sa kanya what happened tapos sinundan niya at nireport sa guard. After 5 minutes, lumapit [yung] guard samin at [sinabi na] lumabas na daw yung lalaki."
She added, "Iba pala ang pakiramdam bilang magulang pag sayo na nangyari. Nanginginig ako sa kaba. Pagkatapos nun, niremind ko ulit sila sa mga Stranger Rules namin. Kaya pala iba daw pakiramdam ni Lan habang bumibili sa sa kabilang store, may urge na gusto nya kami silipin."
She then thanked the security personnel who helped them.
When asked what their Stranger Rules are, Princess shared with Smart Parenting that they role play and practice scenarios with her children at home to help them understand how to respond in different scenarios. "This can make them more confident in real-life situations," she said.
Concerned netizens were quick to sympathize with Mommy Princess in the comment section.
Some even shared that they had a similar experience in other malls. One user said, "Naku, doble ingat po. It's really important that we teach them talaga not to talk to strangers at a young age. 'Pag andiyan ka na sa ganyang situation, minsan matutulala ka din, kakabahan. But we have to be alert talaga. They're everywhere, matanda o bata."
One parent meanwhile warned, "Kung saan maraming bata, doon tumatambay ang mga pedophiles and human traffickers. Ingatan po natin ang mga anak natin. Kahit nakakapagod, sundan natin sila kapag naglalaro, 'wag cellphone ng cellphone."
READ ALSO: Mahilig Bang Magtatakbo Si LO Sa Labas? Kailangan Mo Ng Child Safety Tags
How to teach your child to be smart about strangers
1. Be clear with them about who strangers are
Strangers are people you don't know. They can look normal and pretty, or dressed in a nice attire. Don't talk to them.
Daily Mom blog advises having a unique code word that your child recognizes. If someone doesn't know the code word, then they should not go with them.
2. Tell them to do these two things: scream and move quickly
When a stranger grabs your child, Smart Kids 101 advises that they make a big commotion. Scream with these 3 L's in mind: Low, Loud, and Long. They can also yell something to get people's attention like "Help!" or "This is not my dad (or mom)!" or "Hindi ko siya Mommy or Daddy". Practice these with them at home so they will remember what to do and say should they be in trouble.
3. Inform them about "safe persons"
Tell your child that if they become separated from you or suddenly cannot find you, they should find a "safe person" to help. "Safe persons" are security guards, police officers, and store clerks in uniforms. If none, look for moms or adults with children and ask for help.
4. Make sure they know your contact details
Better safe than sorry. Make sure your child has an information card containing your full name, contact details, and address. Check out these safety tags that you can buy online.
5. Use a child safety leash
For your peace of mind, you may opt to buy a child safety leash especially if you are going out with your young children.
This anti-lost wristband is adjustable (comes in 1.5 meters and 2.5 meters) and made of thick steel wire.
This child anti-lost strap meanwhile comes in a cute angel wings design so that kids will be willing to wear it.
You may also let your kids wear tracking devices. Read here for parent-recommended brands.
Smart Parenting has reached out to the identified mall for their side of the story. Stay tuned for further developments.
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