KidCode, developed by the Committee for Children, is a project that is simple to implement. Yet, it can have a tremendous impact on community awareness of your club or center’s commitment to child abuse prevention.

It is a protective password chosen by parents and their children to help prevent abduction by strangers. The code word can be any word or phrase, the more unusual the better. It can be a silly password like "green-tailed monkey" or "purple pumpkin eater," a made-up word like "muggly-wumps" or even a high-tech password like "megabyte." It should be unique, yet easy to remember, and above all, it should be a family’s own personal password. (Families should not use the example words when selecting their KidCode.)

Whatever KidCode a family chooses, the children should be instructed to never go anywhere with anyone who does not know that special word.

The disappearance of children is a major problem in the United States. In many cases, there is a direct relationship between abduction and abuse. KidCode will not solve the problem of missing children, but it will help children distinguish between people they have permission to go with, and people who are likely to deceive, exploit, or injure them.

The most important thing your club or center can do is to share the KidCode concept with as many families in your community as possible. This can best be accomplished through the distribution of KidCode brochures at schools, day-care centers, shopping centers or even special club gatherings.

The colorful brochure explaining the KidCode program, available from National Headquarters, is all you need to set the program in motion. See the order form in this guide for pricing information.

Order brochures