Stranger Danger
vs
Stranger Safety
FAQ
Q. How do I teach Stranger Danger child safety tips to my kids? And what does Stranger Safety mean? A. The usual stranger warnings for kids aren't effective because kids aren't sure what or who a stranger is. And once a child learns a stranger’s name, he’s no longer a stranger. Further, even adults often don’t recognize a predator if he acts friendly. In addition, good strangers far outnumber bad strangers – and are very willing to help any child who’s lost or afraid. The vast majority of people will risk their necks trying to save your child. Make sure your child knows to ask strangers for help in an emergency. Stranger Safety far outweighs danger from a stranger. Besides, most abductors and molesters are acquaintances of the child. See Caretakers Above Suspicion at Child Safety - Molesters. To simplify matters, teach your child: "No matter who it is, watch for ANYONE trying to get you alone – or into his car. ALWAYS ask ME before you go ANYWHERE with ANYONE!" Also see "Stranger Danger Escape" on Child Safety - Kidnap.
OVERALL CHILD SAFETY TIPS for STRANGER DANGER
• Know your full name, phone number and address.
• Never be alone off your property. Stay with friends – even when going to public lavatories.
• Always get your parent’s OK before going anywhere – and phone your parent often.
• Walk only on routes to school and elsewhere that your parent has scouted out with you and pointed out safe places along the way. And never walk through parking lots or take other shortcuts.
• No headphones or hand-held games to distract you from what’s around.
• If someone comes near you, don’t speak to him other than saying, "Go ask an adult.”
• Never go near someone in a car or truck. Just run the other way – toward other people.
• Cute animals and candy are just two tricks used by bad people to get near you.
• Always get your parent’s OK before accepting money or a gift.
• If you see someone doing something wrong, go the other direction.
• Do not have your name printed on anything visible to strangers.
• Give up your valuables if you’re robbed by another kid – never fight back.
• Never get money for any school or club project unless your parent is with you.
• Don’t trust anyone who tries to get you to break your parent’s rules.
• Tell your parent about places or people that make you feel unsafe.
• Have a secret code word for emergencies. If you phone your parent while you’re with someone who scares you, you can say the code word to secretly let your parent know that you need help.
IF LOST – CHILD SAFETY TIPS for STRANGER SAFETY
• Never go anywhere that your parent hasn’t told you is OK – you might get lost.
• But if you do get lost anyway, go to a store or a home where you know someone is at home. Go anywhere there are people to help you (stranger safety) – and be loud about it.
IF FEELING THREATENED – STRANGER DANGER
• If you think that you’re being followed by someone, start blowing your whistle (or pull the pin on your noisemaker) while running to a store or a home where you know someone is at home (stranger safety). Run to anywhere there are people to help you – and be loud about it. (Instead of hanging a whistle around his/her neck on a cord that can be used to strangle, use a beaded-metal chain that breaks too easily for strangling. Or wear a whistle on a wrist bracelet.)
• Trust your feelings. If you feel scared, just run away to a safe place. Yell “NO,” then RUN and TELL an adult.
• If someone grabs for you, thrash, fight, bite, and scream, "Help! Police!" repeatedly, shed a jacket or backpack that is grabbed, drop any excess baggage slowing them down, escape to a populated area (stranger safety), and call the police. YELL! RUN! TELL! The kidnapper fears a public spectacle and may simply flee alone.
• What if he has a weapon? Ignore it and run! Weapons are rarely used to threaten a child, and almost never used to harm a child at the kidnapping scene. A kidnapper does not want to attract attention. Besides, if he’s willing to harm a child there, he’s willing to do even worse harm at a secluded location. The same advice still holds true: Shout, "Help! Police!" Get away no matter what! Drop to the ground, kick, hit, bite, and scream – then run!
• Pull the pin on their personal noisemaker alarm.
• Hug a tree, pole, or any solid object, or even a bicycle while screaming.
• Run in circles around an object such as a parked car.
• Get under a car (belly up) and hold onto the underside so he can’t drag them out. If he crawls under there after them, get out on the other side.
• Pull a fire alarm.
• For more Stranger Danger Child Safety Tips, see the escape techniques in Child Kidnapping Escape.
The Best Child Safety Tips:
SET YOUR BOUNDARIES for Stranger Danger
Don't turn your back on someone you don’t trust – keep watching him. If he begins to approach you, raise one hand in a “STOP!” gesture, grab your whistle (or noisemaker alarm) with your other hand, and fiercely tell him to "Stay away from me!"If he keeps coming toward you, run to safety while blowing your whistle (or pull the pin on your noisemaker alarm), and yelling, “Help! Police!” Run to a store or a home where you know someone is at home. Run to anywhere there are people to help you (stranger safety).
ROLE PLAYING for Stranger Danger
Parents: practice this Stranger Danger BOUNDARY SETTING scenario with your child. Also practice other “what if” scenarios with your children while visiting malls or parks so they’ll know what to do if lost or in danger.
PERSONAL SAFETY DEVICES
• Alarms (a.k.a. noisemakers). An attacker won’t likely chase a noisy target. See Security Products - Personal Devices.
• Whistle worn around the neck (but use a beaded-metal chain – it’s too weak to strangle. Or wear a whistle on a wrist bracelet).
• Cell phoneDoes this satisfy your question about stranger danger? If not, please Contact Us and I will get back to you.
Find all child safety tips here:
• See Free-Range Kids tells of RadKids.org training (bottom of the page).
• Child Safety - Overview
• Stop Bullying in school, as well as cyber bullying - FAQ.
• Child Safety - Molesters: the subtle warning signs.
• Child Safety - Safeguarding from molesters.
• Child Safety - Internet: the dangers & safeguards.
• Child Safety Outdoors: staying out of harm’s way.
• Child Safety - Kidnap Escape from a monster.
• Child Safety - Recap: a summary of the Child Safety section.
• Security Products - Personal Devices
Stop Bullying |
Free-Range Kids |
Security Products - Personal Devices |
Child Safety - Safeguarding |
Child Safety - Kidnap |
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