May 25 has been observed as National Missing Children’s Day since it was first proclaimed by President Ronald Reagan in 1983. It is a day to remember those children who are missing, those children who have been found, and those children who will not be coming home.

Every year in America, an estimated 800,000 children are reported missing, more than 2,000 children each day. Of that number, 200,000 are abducted by family members and 58,000 are abducted by non- family members, for which the primary motive is sexual. Each year, 115 children are the victims of the most serious abductions; they are taken by non- family members and either murdered, ransomed or taken with the intent to keep.

An analysis of attempted abduction cases by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children found that in 84% of the cases, the child escaped would-be abductors through their own actions. Thirty- five percent actively resisted (yelling, kicking, pulling away, running away or attracting attention). If we don't teach them how will they know?
Please take 25 minutes to talk with the children in your lives about child safety http://www.take25.org/