Stranger Danger

During the last tell mama our guest Kristen Redd talked about stranger danger. We brainstormed several ways to help your child stay safe. Here is what was discussed:
“The world is a safe and wonderful place and the majority of adults will not hurt them.” We don’t want to create fear in our children making them afraid of everyone they meet, rather we want to educate and empower them to trust their own instincts and differentiate between dangerous and safe situations.

1) Foster intuition: Help children become aware of the link between emotion and body cues.

2) Encourage personal power: Help children be aware that they have responsibility for their own safety and will need to make good decisions for themselves in the moment.
• Foster courage to stand up for themselves and others.
• Encourage self control of emotions and thoughts in difficult situations
• Help them to understand stress responses (heart pounds, throat constricts, fingers numb, etc). Teach them to take deep breaths.
• Empower them to save themselves not just rely on mom and dad.
• Demonstrate positive self talk “I can do it, I am ok.”
• Teach them to walk away from danger (don’t worry about being polite)
• Show how to draw attention (kick, hit, bite, scream, yell for help)

3) Educate: An informed child is a safe child.
• What are the real things children need to be aware of in our community, when traveling, ect.
• Teach appropriate touch as early as possible so they have the tools to understand and communicate any problems.
• Know personal information (name, phone, address, safe person to contact)
• Never go near a stranger’s car
• Use buddy system
• If lost seek a mother (Usually another mother has the instincts to help a lost child)
• Encourage them to tell about uncomfortable/unusual situations (Reassure that the child will be believed)

Bibliography:
www.mychildsafe.net
Raising Kids Who Can Protect Themselves. Debbie and Mike Gardner
What every 21st –Century Parent Needs to know, Debra W Haffner
www.myinnerguide.com
Genevieve’s Gift: A child’s Joyful Tale of Connecting with her Intuitive Heart, By Rosemary Serluca-Foster