Stranger Danger is a common refrain when teaching children to protect themselves from the bad people we share this world with. It is perhaps overly simple, and disregards the fact that some dangers come from people known to the child, but is a good starting point to build on. Start by teaching your children the following rules:
Don’t talk to strangers.
Don’t accept gifts or candy from strangers.
Don’t approach strangers’ cars or homes for any reason. Even if they offer gifts, ask for help or directions, show a pet, or say they know your parents.
Don’t keep secrets from your parents, especially if asked to by another adult.
Stay with the group or parent when you are away from home.
Check with your parents first before going anywhere out of sight, no matter who with.
A stranger is anyone who has not been introduced by a trusted adult.
If a stranger tries to touch you or makes you uncomfortable, immediately tell a parent or trusted adult. If someone tries to grab you or make you go somewhere or get in a car with them, do anything to get away. You will not get in trouble even if you scream, hit, scratch, or bite. Yell to others nearby, “This is not my Dad!” Run to a trusted adult and tell immediately.
For parents: Do not punish a false alarm. Use it as an opportunity to teach them.
Once your child is a bit older, begin discussing concepts in order to add nuance to the simple rules. Teach them to be confident, but smart. Help them to understand there are bad people out there, but there are more good that bad so there is no need to fear everyone as long you are careful. Tell them even people they know can do bad things. Teach them to trust their instincts. If someone makes you scared or uncomfortable, go to a safe place and tell a trusted adult.
When they are capable of understanding, teach them how to find an adult they can trust. Point out uniformed police and security officers. Store clerks. Teachers. Parents with other children. Teach them where to find customer service desks, and how to recognize police cars.
Finally, when your child is on the verge of spending more time unsupervised, do some quizzing or actual role playing. Ask, what would you do in a given situation? Ask, if something happened right now, which way would you go for help? If a stranger grabbed you like this, how would you get away?
I pray your family will never need to put any of this to use, but if so, I pray they do so effectively and come home safe and sound.