In terms of “stranger danger,” what are we supposed to tell our young kids?
(1) People are mostly kind…but some aren’t: For the most
part, people are good, kind and helpful. But not everyone. “Most people are
very kind. When we go to the store, there are many kind people who are there to
help you, right? Most people want everyone to be safe and happy. But some people
are not kind. Some people do not make safe and kind choices. We don’t always
know who the kind and unkind people are because there are no superhero or
villain masks in real life.”
(2) Stay by the person who brought you: Your school age
children should be told to stay by you or the person who brought them. “When we
go out, please stay where I can see you and you can see me. Please don’t wander
into the next aisle alone because I won’t be able to see you. Wandering off is
an unsafe choice. Staying by me is a safe choice.”
(3) State what you want in the positive as well as in the
negative: We don’t want to just say “don’t
wander off” or “don’t leave the store” but also “please stay where I can see
you” and “stay in the store.” Children respond well with what “to do” rather
than just telling them what not to do.
(4) Yell as loud as you can: This is not the time for inside
voices. “If someone grabs you, yell: “This is not my mom/dad! This is not my
mom/dad! Help me! This is not my Mom/Dad!” Make sure they understand that they
should not just yell “no” or “leave me alone” because some patrons might simply
think that your child is throwing a tantrum with his parent.
(5) Get physical: We always tell our children to keep their
hands to themselves. In this “stranger danger” situation, they need permission
to get physical. That means kicking, hitting, biting, or whatever they need to
do to stay safe. Tell your child to move their legs like they are riding a
bicycle as this makes them hard to hold. If someone puts their hand over their
mouth, continue to kick—and bite the person’s hand.
(6) Stay aware: It’s easy to get distracted by the toys and
games in a big store. Brittney was looking at toys when the kidnapper tried to
restrain her. Being aware can give your child time as well as vital
information. Say; “keep your eyes and ears open. Know who is around you and
what’s going on.”
(7) Don’t go anywhere with a stranger: Educate your child
about some tactics to lure young children. Gifts, promises of puppies, toys, or
even lies like “Your Mom told me to get you” or “Your Dad is hurt…come with me”
might be used. “When you are in a store, you are to stay in the store unless we
leave together. Never leave the store without the person you came in with
unless Mom/Dad tells you that you can personally.”
(8) If you’re lost…here’s where to go: We don’t want our
children to panic if they can’t find us. Tell them to look for someone in the
store uniform, go to the service desk, find a cashier, or, it’s often a safe bet
to approach a mom with children. “Ask that person for help. Tell them your name
and who you are looking for. Tell them that you are lost and you need to find us
right away.”
(9) Stand with confidence: Body awareness can be one of the
first lines of defense. Think about it; two children—one standing with
confidence, head held high, walking as if he knows where he is going and what he
is doing vs one who has his shoulders rolled, head and eyes down, unaware of his
surroundings. For additional body awareness and self defense, enroll your child
is a top notch martial arts academy that teaches children more than just kicking
and punching. If you need a recommendation, please ask me—our Powerful Words
Member Schools and Personal Development Centers are all over the world.
(10) Trust your gut: This is really a message about all
choices. “If your tummy feels weird or you have a little voice inside you that
tells you ‘this doesn’t feel right’ or ‘run’ or ‘get closer to Dad/Mom’ then
listen to it. That’s your gut speaking. Your gut—that little voice inside you
that tells you when something is right or wrong– is very smart.”
The last thing I would tell you is to allow your children to practice. Have
them practice yelling, kicking, screaming, punching a pillow, and moving their
legs. Have them practice talking to a store clerk and bring them to a store and
encourage them to speak to those in uniform so that they get comfortable doing
it. My hope is that the children in your life will never need to use many of
these tips—better to have them and not need them than need them and not have
them
From: http://www.drrobynsilverman.com/parenting-tips/walmart-kidnapping-how-can-i-keep-my-child-safe-from-unkind-strangers/http://www.drrobynsilverman.com/parenting-tips/walmart-kidnapping-how-can-i-keep-my-child-safe-from-unkind-strangers/
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