| "Don't talk to strangers!" It's a common phrase parents | | | | Kids want to follow your rules. You teach your children |
| use to educate their kids, but it doesn't always work in | | | | to beware of strangers, but you'd be surprised how |
| the right way. A popular story made headlines across | | | | few kids actually know who counts as a stranger. You |
| America a few summers ago when an 11-year-old | | | | don't want your child to avoid policemen or doctors |
| boy was lost in the Utah wilderness for four days. | | | | because they consider them strangers so it's important |
| During that time, he stayed on the trail. He saw people | | | | they know the difference between good strangers |
| searching for him but deliberately hid from them, afraid | | | | and bad strangers. |
| someone might "steal" him. He was eventually found, | | | | You have a lot to worry about when it comes to |
| but his interpretation of his parents' rule about | | | | protecting your child from strangers. Luckily there are |
| strangers kept him in danger longer than necessary. | | | | some simple things you can to do keep them safe |
| That little boy listened to his parents, which was good. | | | | when you aren't around. |
| However, he didn't really understand what they meant, | | | | Tips for parents |
| which was bad. | | | | 1) Talk to your child about the dangers involved in |
| Good things that are bad: | | | | dealing with strangers. |
| Kids want to be helpful. Strangers often ask children | | | | 2) Listen to your child when they try to tell you |
| for help with something so they can be led away or | | | | something is wrong. |
| snatched. Your child is very likely to cooperate | | | | 3) Teach your child the basics. Your child should know |
| because children seek validation. | | | | his phone number, address, and whom to ask for help. |
| Kids are trusting. Most children put all the people in the | | | | 4) Make rules about where and when your kids can |
| world into two groups: good guys and bad guys. | | | | play. |
| Unfortunately, they can rarely tell who goes into which | | | | 5) Get specific. Make sure your kid knows who counts |
| group because strangers who want to hurt them don't | | | | as a stranger. |
| always look like "bad guys." Kids don't know that any | | | | Nothing replaces your supervision of your child. It's your |
| stranger, no matter what they look like, could potentially | | | | job to take care of your child, but you can't be with |
| hurt them. | | | | them all the time. When you aren't there your child |
| Kids don't want to make a fuss. Many children have | | | | must know what to do to stay safe from strangers. If |
| been taught how to behave in public: no screaming, no | | | | you educate your children on dealing with strangers |
| tantrums, and no fighting. When a stranger tries to | | | | without scaring them, you can feel more confident |
| abduct your child, your child might not want to make a | | | | about their safety. |
| fuss for fear of misbehaving and getting in trouble. | | | | |