Speaking to your kids about strangers can be almost as hard as talking about love. The tricky part is that you want your kids to determine the perils posed by strangers without being so frightened so they won't leave your side. If you know how to talk about strangers with your kids in a not-so-alarming and age-appropriate way, you can rest at ease knowing that your child is well-prepared.
1. Tell your kids to only help people they personally know. Most kids, if not all, are always taught to lend a helping hand to someone in need. However, you should clarify to them that they should never help an adult or someone that they do not know. Instill in their minds that adults should always ask other adults for help. Remind your children that it is fine to say no if a stranger asks them for help.
2. Remind your child to always draw attention to himself/herself. There may be times when your kid still needs to get away regardless of how prepared your kid may be. Hence, teach your kid to draw as much attention to himself as much as possible rather than to just go quietly. Train them to scream, shriek, stomp on the attacker's feet, punch gouge or do whatever deed which can attract attention. This is very much important especially at night and whenever they are only by themselves.
3. Craft a safe list and introduce it to your kids. This list should include all the names of people who can interact and pick-up your kids. The list is extremely helpful when parents are separated or divorced and when one parent is not allowed to gain access to the child. This way, they would simply know who they can trust instead of being afraid to everyone.
4. Create a code word or a passcode. Keep your kids safe by agreeing on a secret password - regardless of age. Develop a secret word or set of secret digits between the two of you. The word, short phrase or digits should not be commonly known to others. Too, it should be something that your kids can remember. All people and kids who claim that they were sent by Dad and Mom should know the word which may include extended family members, friends and acquaintances.
5. Keep your kid's identity anonymous. Just like everyone else, parents should refrain from writing or promulgating their kid's name on everything or anyone at any age. Giving some important details about your kid may give a potential bad person an opening to start a conversation and, unfortunately, most kids will respond to any authority figure or adult who calls them by name.
Telling your kids about these safety precautions is not enough. The most effective way to teach your children about stranger danger is to tell it to them repetitively. Though repetitive, your child will tend not to forget these precautions especially if it is not on the top of his or her mind. Always remember that you are just doing this for your kid's own good and their safety is our most important priority.
So, can you share to us some safety tips that you apply to your children? Share us your thoughts in the comment section below.
