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It may not be something we like to think about, but there are people in the world who would do harm to our children, given the chance. Children are abducted every day from their own back yards or right in front of their own schools. It is crucial that we as parents give our children the tools to protect themselves from strangers and learn how to stand up for their own safety.
It might be well and good to teach your child not to talk to strangers, but do they know what a stranger is? Some kids think that strangers are people who look scary or talk funny, but a stranger can be a nice lady, an older child, or a kind looking man who has lost his dog. Anyone who is not a close family friend or someone who you regularly leave your child with should be considered a stranger.
Your child should know that it is o.k. to talk to strangers if you are standing right beside them, but not if you have your back turned or are a few feet away. Ask your child to get your attention if anyone speaks to him, immediately! If someone offers something to your child, instruct them that they must tell the stranger that they need to get you first. Tell your kids to NEVER go with ANYONE and if someone tries to force them, they should scream, run, kick, hit, do anything in their power to get away. Adults don’t ask children for help, let your child know that this is a trick often used by bad strangers.
It is important that your child knows that he should not be in a situation where anyone would have the opportunity to do harm to him. This means that he should never walk anywhere alone, run off from you in public, or be somewhere without you knowing about it. Parks, malls and crowded events are prime targets for those who victimize children. The noise and confusion are perfect covers. Keep an extra close eye on your children in these situations and let them know the importance of staying by your side.
Many schools are now making stranger safety a regular part of their curriculum, but don’t wait for your child to learn these important things in school, they should know it long before they ever get to school. There is no such thing as too young to learn about stranger safety!
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