Do you find that your child’s name embroidered in large on his t-shirt, sweater or school bag is too cute? Certainly. But according to this expert in criminology, it would be better to avoid. Here’s why !
The t-shirt or sweater personalized with your child’s first name, his school bag on which is written “Arthur” wholesale… Many brands offer personalized clothing and accessories, with labels, or simply embroidery. Very cute, colorful and above all practical to avoid losing your little things at school, these everyday objects are however to be avoided according to Dannah Eve, an expert in criminology, who recently posted a video on Tik Tok aimed at parents whose children go to school alone.
“A backpack or a piece of clothing with his first name can put him in a dangerous situation”
It reveals indeed a piece of common sense advice, far from wanting to distress young parents. According to her, personalized backpacks could represent an opportunity for pedophiles or ill-intentioned people to approach a child more easily, calling out to him by his first name. The latter could then think that the adult already knows him and would pay more attention to his speech.
“The second someone says a child’s name and they turn around, that person automatically has the upper hand.”
This of course does not apply to toddlers, but rather to children who are old enough to go to school alone, specifies the specialist. “When they’re tiny babies, that doesn’t really apply because you’re with them and they’re most likely in your arms. But if your child is of school age and he walks alone to get there, a backpack with his first name or clothes with his first name written on it can unfortunately put him in a dangerous situation“.
“Predators don’t come off as those monstrous people, they come off as real good people. They’re really good at drawing your child to them. Let’s face it, the second someone says a child’s name and they turn around, that person automatically has the upper hand. They can make this child believe that they know him or that they know his parents“ explains Dannah Eve.