Hi NEN Fam! As a mom, I always want to protect my children and ensure they grow up in a safe environment. One of the most important things to teach kids is how to navigate interactions with strangers. Here are some tips to share with your kiddos to keep them safe:
Recognizing Strangers
Start by teaching your kids about the concept of “don’t knows” and “kinda knows.”
- A “don’t know” is a complete stranger, someone they don’t know at all.
- A “kinda know” is someone they have met a few times before and may be around a lot, but don’t have a trusted relationship with. This might be a family friend or even an uncle or cousin.
Identifying Safe Adults
Help your child identify five “safe side adults” they can trust. These are people they can go places with or approach without needing to ask for permission. These adults can be parents, extended family, family friends, or neighbors. Law enforcement officers can also be included in this list.
Responding to Unsafe Situations
While it’s scary to think about, it’s important to prepare your kids for potentially dangerous situations.
- Always encourage your child to be aware of their surroundings. If a “don’t know” is hanging around them within a close distance (like 10 feet), it’s important to either tell a trusted adult and move to a safer area.
- If a “don’t know” is making your child uncomfortable, they should tell a trusted adult immediately. Reinforce that it is always okay to seek help!
- Remind them that an adult should never ask a child for help. If a "don't know" asks them for assistance, they should find a trusted adult and inform them.
- Teach your kids to wiggle, kick, bite, etc. if grabbed by someone. This can delay or deter a person from potentially kidnapping or harming your child. It is also important to teach them to use their voice, which is often their most valuable tool. They can just scream or yell a phrase like “This is not my mom! This is not my dad!” to attract attention and alert others that they are in trouble.
Safety with Technology, Social Media, and Personal Information
In our new online world, protecting personal information is more important than ever.
- Remind your kids to never give out their home address, school, or even their full name to a "don't know" online, no matter the situation. Even if it feels comfortable, familiar, or safe, it’s best to double check with a trusted adult.
- If a "don't know" asks to borrow your child’s phone, encourage your child to either offer to make the call (or do the action) for them or suggest using a public phone to them. Remind your child that sharing their phone could compromise their personal information like their location, full name, or phone number. They also do not have to feel obligated to fulfill a stranger's request
- Teach your kids to be aware of who follows them on social media. They shouldn't add or accept requests from people they don’t know, even if they share mutual friends. Not everyone has good intentions or are exactly who they say they are.
Home Safety
- Children should never open the door for "don't knows", regardless of how convincing their story may seem. Always encourage your kids to come and get a trusted adult first.
Empowering our children with knowledge and skills can make a huge difference in keeping them safe. It’s important to regularly discuss these points and role-play scenarios to ensure they feel confident in their ability to protect themselves. Let’s work together to keep our kids safe in a world that can sometimes be unpredictable.
Resources
Watch me test my kids’ stranger safety skills!:
Watch me test my kids’ knowledge on safety around strangers in 2023!:
Watch the safety film I have shared with all of my kiddos!:
