Guest Post by Seth Brown, Director of Crime Prevention at Columbus Consolidated Government
8 Tips for teaching your kids about Stranger Danger
My son has always been one of those kids that is keenly aware of his surroundings. He also seems to be able to find the “fatal flaw” in every activity. I always prided myself on being the one that taught him to be aware.
Recently he came running in the house, slammed the door and then peeked through the blinds. My curiosity got the best of me and I had to ask, “What are you doing son?” His response startled me a little, “A car drove by real slowly and I didn’t want the man to grab me.”
I was furious at myself for teaching my children too well…to the point of scaring them to death actually. Child abductions are not some perceived threat; they do exist. Truthfully though, we as parents need to keep things in perspective to avoid causing paranoia as I did in my son.
I recommend all parents read Protecting the Gift, by child-safety expert Gavin De Becker. De Becker points out that children are far more likely to suffer a heart attack than to be kidnapped. We should educate our children of this risk, but not to the point of keeping them on edge at all times. We don’t want them thinking a “boogie man” is around every corner.
With all that said, here are a few tips to keep our children safe. I recommend starting this around 4-5 years old.
Tip 1
They can say “NO” to an adult that they perceive as a stranger. If they feel unsafe it’s ok to be “rude”. Scream, fight or do whatever is necessary to cause a scene if they are made to feel uncomfortable.
Tip 2
We always tell our children, “Don’t talk to strangers,” but we should teach them also some are OK to approach. Police, firemen and teachers are there to help.
Tip 3
Kids are more aware of their surroundings than we give them credit. Don’t discount your child’s feelings. Just like you and I, they will instinctively protect themselves if they feel it’s necessary. Remind them to speak out or tell someone if they feel unsafe.
Tip 4
Our children need to know that we will listen to them no matter what happens. Encourage them to come to you with anything so they will always feel comfortable about speaking out. Your home needs to be a safe haven for them and they should be encouraged to speak freely.
Tip 5
Teach your children “good touch/bad touch”. Use the proper name for body parts and discuss how only mommy, daddy and doctors are allowed to touch them.
Tip 6
Teach them that strangers should not be asking children for help. If a stranger offers them a treat for helping them we should tell them to loudly say “NO”! A stranger should never approach our children and solicit help.
Tip 7
We want our children to play outside as much as possible but encourage them to play as a group. If they walk home from school remind them to find people who take the same route. As always, there is safety in numbers.
Tip 8
Practice scenarios with your children as “what ifs”. This will help things become more automatic for them if anything happens.
As I stated in the beginning, we don’t want our children paranoid or to think that every stranger will harm us. We are very fortunate to live in a safe community in which our children can thrive. However, we want them to be aware of their surroundings and be able to determine when they need to act!
Seth Brown is the Director of Crime Prevention at Columbus Consolidated Government. He is the father of two children ages 10 and 12.
Photo Credit: GrapicLeftovers.com
