Stranger Safety
 
Concepts We Can Teach Through Role Play or Playing "What If......" Games:
*Opening the doors at home when the doorbell rings or someone is knocking
*Getting into the car of a stranger.  Define stranger.  S/he can look like anyone else and even be friendly and nice, but a stranger is someone that you don't know.  Role play examples of what harmful strangers have been known to do:
-Ask for help in finding a lost pet
-Offer candy if child will get into their car
-Tell a child they are hurt and ask for help.  (Remind children they should run away if this happens and tell their parents so they can help if the person really is hurt.)
-Tell a child they will hurt their mommy, daddy, or brothers and sisters if they don't do what they want
(Have children practice screaming "no" or "you are not my mommy/daddy" very loudly.  Discuss why they need to be loud.)

Other Topics of Discussion:
*The importance of not keeping secrets from parents
*Talk about having a secret code word with Mommy/Daddy so that if someone tells you that your parents sent them to get you, ask them the code word.  If they don't know it, run away from them.
*Good hugs and touching versus bad touches.  (Remind children that parents or doctors might have to examine a private area if children get hurt.)
 
What If I Get Lost?
Because we're teaching stranger safety, we need also to teach children what to do should they get lost or separated from the adults who care for them.  Here's a handful of things we can discuss and/or teach:
1. Have children practice saying their first and last names, address, and phone number
2. Have children practice saying their Mommy and/or Daddy's first and last names and maybe the name of where they work
3. Have children practice dialing 911
4. Remind children that should they get lost, there are "safe" grown-ups they can look for to help them: people wearing uniforms like those worn at Wal-Mart or your grocery store, people wearing badges like security guards, people working behind a counter or desk, or mommies and daddies with other children.
Activity: Provide various pictures of people (some in uniforms, wearing badges, etc and some in regular clothing).  Have children choose who would be the best choices to go to for help.  Remind them that most people in regular clothing are also safe, but just to be sure, when lost, children should look for the special people mentioned above.

Click here to find information on this subject for sharing with parents.
(Don't worry, you won't get lost.  You will be able to return to this page from there.)
 
Favorite Books:
From Donna King, Roxboro, North Carolina:
*The Berenstain Bears Learn About Strangers, by Stan & Jan Berenstain is a good book when talking to children about stranger safety and does a good job of informing children on their level.

From Stormie:
*(I'm Safe) At the Mall, by Wendy Gordon; Illustrated by Paul Gordon: Children learn what to do should they get lost in a public place.
*Your Body Belongs To You, by Cornelia Spelman; illustrations by Teri Weidner: The title says it all.  Some touches are ok, some are not.
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