It is so sad that the world seems a much more dangerous place than when people grew up in the 1950s, ’60s and ‘70s. “Stanger Danger” are the new buzz words for keeping children indoors, which of course leads to all sorts of other problems - obesity and social isolation, just to name two - that society will be dealing with in years to come.
There have always been strangers, and some of them have been dangerous strangers, but the media and television have blown the cases of abduction and child molesters out of proportion, making everyone afraid. Yes, there are reasons for concern but that must not force us to make our children fearful of the whole world, rather let’s give them the tools and the confidence to keep themselves safe.
“Stranger Danger” is an easy catch-all of the things that can harm children but instilling fear isn’t the way to deal with the very real dangers that exist. Instilling common sense and how to deal with situation that may confront them is a much better way to keep children safe. Equipping kids with the knowledge of what to do if a stranger approaches them with offers of candy or requests for help looking for a puppy or even asking for directions, will give them strategies that work.
The first step is to communicate with your kids, and keep talking with them as they grow up because potential situations and solutions change.
The primary issue is who exactly are these “strangers” and what threats are they likely to pose? As we all know, not every stranger will pose a danger to a child, so how do they tell the difference between a “good” stranger and a “bad” one? Giving your child the information they need and can understand is vital at this point, so ensure they understand that even though they may not know them, police officers, teachers, clerks in stores, and security guards can be helpful if they feel scared or in danger.
What are the potential dangers? It could be someone approaching them and trying to lure them into a car or away from their school or playground; someone trying to touch them in ways that makes them feel uncomfortable or someone trying to get personal information from them, etc. Even very young children can understand what to do in these situations. They need to be taught how to walk away confidently without talking to a stranger, or to make lots of noise and commotion if someone tries to grab them, or that they should never open the door to anyone if they are home alone, or to run to the nearest house to get help if they feel threatened.
Role playing can teach your children how to respond if a dangerous situation should ever arise and having practiced what they should do will give them the confidence that could save them in the situation.
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