“Don’t talk to strangers! You don’t know that person!”
We’ve all heard it said. Many adults who are parenting and nannying today were raised with that idea – that strangers were dangerous and should be avoided. And we still deal with tough questions about keeping kids safe.
A few months back, a Youtube video was circulating of a man asking moms at a park if he could test their children’s level of “stranger danger.” Every mother assured the man that her child would NEVER talk to him, but they all gave their consent. Then, the mothers watched as the man approached their child at the park, asked if they wanted to see a puppy, and then sat horrified as their sweet little child walked off hand-in-hand with a complete stranger!
There is the likelihood that at least one of these kids saw their mom talking to the man, and therefore assumed he was trustworthy. Regardless, the man’s point was valid: that children do not understand Stranger Danger. It is our job as parents and caregivers to teach and protect.
Click here to read the rest of the article and the tips for talking to children about Stranger Danger.