A few weeks ago I wrote about water safety and it got me thinking to another issue that many of our kids are faced with- “Stranger Danger”. I grew up where we were taught constantly about strangers and my Father recently reminded me how we use to role play about it. For me Stranger Danger was a big part of my childhood and learning to do the right things in difficult situations.
When I was about 6 or 7, I remember walking to school and seeing a strange car on the street. The man reached over to unlock the door, and well I panicked and ran to school. I told my teacher right away and sat down with the principle who called my parents. We figured out that the person was likely just picking someone up and not trying to nab me but because I had been so indoctrinated with Stranger Danger, I reacted the way I did.
As a kid, I had way more freedom than my kids do. At six I was walking to school and I was also letting myself in the house. I can't imagine my daughter doing that at all and the idea of her walking home from school is sickening to me. Do we live in a more dangerous time or is it that we are more aware of what is around us?
We as a family have been working on what to do if a stranger approaches the kids and telling our daughter that she never ever goes with anyone that she doesn't know. She has learned that there are specific people she can go with in case of an emergency. Truthfully it is rare to hear children being snatched but it still is something I want to protect my child from just like I need to teach them to escape the house if it was on fire or water safety.
Sit down with your kids and have a conversation that is appropriate for their level. For my daughter, who is six, we work with her with trigger points like if anyone offers her candy or ice cream. I told her she can have that any time with us so why would she ever want to take it from someone she doesn't know. I don't want to terrify her but I do want to ensure that there is some fear not to do it.
We also work on answering the door and when she is allowed to and not allowed. I remember someone knocking one day when I was up stairs. I heard her clearly say that she could not answer the door and was getting her Mom. I was glad that she remembered what we had talked to her about if that situation arose.
I don't want my kid to be fearful about people because most people are good but a dangerous person isn't likely going to look dangerous so the best policy for us is to make them understand the right from the wrong. Having an open discussion with your kids and letting them know where they can be safe is important.
For me it is important to reinforce the things we teach them and I am proud when I see them in action and doing the right thing. I know my daughter is cautious about things and I tell her to use that instinct to her benefit when she is in a situation that makes her uncomfortable. It is a conversation we have often and I hope that it is the same for your home.
Bio:
Rebecca Benson is a League City stay at home mom who has lived here since 2003 when her husband took a job on the International Space Station program. She followed soon after working on the same program for nearly six years when she started staying home with the kids. Rebecca loves to craft, scrapbook, sew, and embrace motherhood. Rebecca has a blog called Mommiedom ((http://queenmommiedom.blogspot.com/) where she talks about all the things in her life not just those “confessions”.
