1. Speak to every child you meet, with courtesy and kindness. It really doesn't take much effort to make a positive impact on a child's life who may have little going for them at home.

2. Treat your own children the way you wanted to be treated as a child. Be the parent you longed for. If you were abused, then break the cycle, here and now. Stop the blame game and use your life to make a difference in the world.

3. Give up denial. Your children will not tell you they are being abused if they already know you won't believe them. Denial is very dangerous.

3. Write your local politicians and find out what they are doing to stop child abuse, sexual abuse in particular.

4. Get involved. If you read my other articles you would have seen that 85% of child abductions occur within 1/4 mile of the home or school. I also noted that an unusual number of children are swiped off the street in the late afternoon and evening hours. These statistics are very disturbing to me because this is preventable.

Organize a "protect our children" neighborhood committee. Retired folks and others whose schedules permit, can volunteer to sit outside or cruise the neighborhood in their car while children are walking to and from school. Start knocking on doors, talking to your neighbors and pulling together to safeguard our children. Bring back "safe houses" with the sign in the window letting children know they can run there for help if needed. There is no reason our children should be left vulnerable to predators. I believe every new home should be required to have a front porch to encourage more community and activity in our neighborhoods.

5. Report abuse that you know is occurring. That child has no one else but you to step in and help them.

6. Talk to your child's principal about bringing safety classes to your child's school. Self defense and stranger safety classes empower children. When a child knows they can protect themselves against bullies or kidnappers they can stop living in fear. We teach fire safety, traffic safety, how to dial 911, but we don't teach personal safety. Why not?