We spent some time last night practicing safety with our children. I am hesitant to call it stranger safety, because often it is people who your children "know" that could potentially be the most danger to them.
Not that I worry a lot about someone taking my kids. I know that statistically the odds are quite low that something like that would happen to my kids, but I still know that we need to equip our kids with some tools to keep them safe.
We have established the safe words. Our kids know that they are not to go with anyone unless that person knows the safe words. So even if someone M knows comes to school and says "come on, your mom said you should come with me" if that person doesn't say something like "and your mom told me I should tell you 'x'" then M knows she shouldn't go with that person.
We also gave our kids some things to yell if someone tries to take them forcibly. "This isn't my Dad!" or "I'm not allowed to go with you!"
I gave them permission to be rude. M didn't know that she could yell and scream and kick at someone if they were trying to take her or hurt her. She thought she'd get in trouble if she treated someone that way.
These things are so confusing for kids.
What things have you taught your kids to say or do to keep them safer?
Monday, October 13, 2008
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I think that is definetly a good idea to sit down and talk with M & K about it, the younger you are when you talk to them the better. Plus, you just gave me a good idea of an activity to do at work with the kids, I don't think we have ever sat down and talk to kids about strangers, last week we did bullying and that was good.
I suspect we'll be having a stranger conversation in the not too distant future... I've also thought that a family password for pickups at the schools etc will be a good idea.
This is actually something we should do in my family again. It's been awhile. As summer was ending and school was starting, there was a man around the area and the next town over who was approaching kids while in his car, and it put up some red flags for a lot of parents. We talked about yelling and running away, but we should always bring this topic up from time to time.
Aiiihhh... We have had the "Safe Kids" talk with all three of our boys, and more than once. But my oldest is getting to that age where he's with others now - friends whose parents I don't know as well, youth group leaders, coaches, etc, and I am nervous. Because, you know, it's always these "trusted leaders" on the 60 Minutes perverts show. So I sat him down recently for an updated version, and he was totally disgusted with me. "Mom!" he exclaimed. "I can't believe you talked to me about this when I was 4!!" Oh, yes, sweetie, and again at 12. Welcome to the real world!
This kind of stuff freaks me out, but I am probably going to go over and over this when Fly is old enough to understand. So far, the craziest thing I've done to keep him safe so far was dive home-plate style to tackle him and keep him from the street when a car was coming. Which isn't really the same kind of safety that you're talking about, but now you have an interesting visual.
It really is very important to teach our children how to "protect" themselves especially when we aren't around. I've told my 6 year old to answer back / shout / scream if and when some stranger coerces him to go with the stranger.
Wow. What a great reminder. I've not had these conversations with my daughter, and it's time I did. Thanks for the post.
so not ready but will have to start this talk soon. I figure once Becs is heading to school and will not be with me always.
I needed the reminder to talk about this, too. I've mostly discussed no one being allowed to touch private areas, not so much abduction (which statistically is much, much smaller risk). I hate thinking or talking about these things. I hate to take away their innocence or give them something to worry about.
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