STRANGER DANGER

Stranger Danger

Stranger Danger

Project Description

We've all encountered the child at the playground, or in the mall, who won't respond to a friendly comment or question, no matter how innocent its intent. We can only assume that her well-meaning parents instilled in her a fear of strangers in their attempt to protect her. Although actual incidents of abductions and overtures from strangers are statistically rare, it's natural for parents to want their children to feel safe, secure, and cared for, so headlines about missing children strike fear in their hearts. The dilemma is this: How can we educate children to be alert to possible dangers and at the same time encourage them to feel safe and confident in exploring their world?

Age-Specific Safety Strategies

Conversations should begin at an early age, with information tailored to the age of your child and adjusted over time (Ratzan Parker 2000). Even the youngest child can be taught simple rules about personal safety, such as his whole name, address, and phone number, the names of his parents, who to call in an emergency, and how to use the phone to call 911. Here are some points to keep in mind:

Preschoolers (ages 3 to 5) are inquisitive, but they're focused on themselves. Since they're not apt to be tuned in to the possible motivations of others, they may be easily fooled. Teach your young child simple facts such as her name and address. She can learn about expected behavior in different situations through games and dramatic play.

Elementary school-age children (ages 6 to 9) are concerned with issues of right and wrong and can learn basic safety rules. Since they want to cooperate and to please adults, they may be tricked by a seemingly tempting situation.

Tweens and teens (ages 10 and up) become more capable of judging the consequences of a potentially dangerous situation. They are likely to be in unsupervised situations more often and are influenced by their peers, and therefore, they may think they should act "cool." Your child still benefits from ongoing discussions of risks, using real-life situations as examples.

Tasks

Children should always tell their parents where they are going and when they will be home.

Children should always go places with at least one other person, and never alone.

Children should be instructed to trust their own feelings. If a situation doesn't feel right to them, they should run away and immediately tell an adult that they trust.

If a child is alone and needs assistance, they should be instructed to seek help from other children, police in uniform, store clerks in the mall, or women with children.

Children should be taught to always lock their home and car doors and to never tell anyone that they are alone.

Children should never accept gifts, rides, candy, or money from any adult without their parent's permission.

Children should always walk against the flow of traffic on the sidewalk.

Teach children to dial 911, how to use a pay phone without money, and their home address and phone ...