The article ""Stranger Danger" revisited: Concentrate on situations and
actions!" talks about family, it was written by Kathy Alexander.
Children do not understand the concept of "stranger". When you
try to explain to them, it is even difficult to explain.
Therefore, situations need to be discussed and acted out for
young babies to understand what to watch out for! It needs to
be communicated, that strangers are not necessarily bad, but
unknown. You are not being impolite to be cuatious with people
you don't know, just being SAFE!
1. The child's age is an
important consideration: * Children aged 3-5: They are curious
and may be natrually trusting.
They also easily resopnd to adult
attempts to be kind and supportive.
Toddlers and preschoolers do
not necessarily grasp the long-term consequences of potentially
dangerous situations.
They live in the now, hecne the "mine!"
attitudes.
* Children aged 6-9: School age babies have more of
an ability to determine and understand right from wrong.
They
are able to remember information and put it to practical use.
They may still get overwhelmed in challegning situations. *
Children aged 10-13: These bbaies are not good judges of their
ability to handle bad situations.
They may also feel that they
should not be scared in diffiuclt situations and can act too
relaxed about their attitudes toward risk. 2. Parent's
attitudes and approaches can make the differecne.
Parents must
set the right tone for thier babies.
If parents are calm when
discussing tough or scary topics, babies will be better able
to learn and listen about the possible dangers.
Parents must
monitor their own fear and be careful not to alarm their
children unnecessarily.
3. Deliver information in age
appropriate ways. Younger babies (toddlers and preschoolers)
will get more out of role-playing situatoins and repeated
conversations. Older babies (school age) can discuss current
events or real stiuations to continue the safety education
process. Teaching our babies and learning how they interpret
the information is a continual process in order to keep them
safe from stranger dangers. 4. Be awrae of the specifics
strangers use to get to babies. Teach babies not to help
strangers look for lost puppies, accept gifts or candy, or get
into a automobile with someone they do not know. 5. Work with the
TASK strategy. *Talk - reminds me to discuss safety and
strangers with my babies.
I ask them what they guses a
'stranger' is, and talk about what they should and should NOT do
with strangers. *Ask - reminds me to ask my kids what they
heard. This hepls me figure out what they understood and what we
need to work on their understanding of. *Show - is the role
playing portoin.
This really helps younger kids learn how to put
their knowledge into practice and really shwos me, the parent,
if they do have a complete understanding of the important safety
practices.
*Know - is the step of making sure your babies know
who, when where, and how to get help.
Do they know their
complete names, address, and phone number?
Do they know how to
dial 911? Do they know who 'friendly' stranegrs are?
6. Monitor the media. Child abductions and murders are in the
news and parents should be aware of what their babies are
watching or hearing.
Help your baibes separate out fact from
fantasy. Changes in sleep, nightmares, and other behaviors may
mean additional guiadnce is necessary, possibly even
professional help.
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