One sunny day years ago my first child, a happy shaggy-haired 3-year-old, with a fistful of vegetables he had picked in the backyard garden, stood knocking on the kitchen door. I looked at him through the glass and said jokingly, \u201cWhat\u2019s the magic password?\u201d<\/p>\n
His answer became \u2013 and still is \u2013 our family\u2019s own password. Magic in its ability to protect my children.<\/p>\n
As a parent, you want to keep your children safe. You make sure they wear a helmet. You strap them into car and booster seats for what feels like forever. You vaccinate them. You tell them not to talk to strangers.<\/p>\n
Rules for using helmets and booster seats are always a good idea. The rule against talking to strangers isn\u2019t always as obvious. It can even confuse your child:<\/p>\n
So it\u2019s important to talk with your child about dangerous situations and how to handle them. Help your child understand that grown-ups ask other grown-ups for help \u2013 they don\u2019t ask children.<\/p>\n
Make sure your child knows that it\u2019s OK to make a fuss and yell if they\u2019re scared. Teach them to yell, \u201cThis isn\u2019t my father (or mother)! Help me!\u201d Bystanders watching a child struggle with an adult may assume that the adult is a parent with a misbehaving child if they\u2019re not told otherwise.<\/p>\n
Children need a plan for when they get lost. Teach them to ask a grandmother or a mother for help. These people are far less likely to be dangerous. They usually want to help children and are easier for kids to recognize (since they\u2019re with their own children). You may also want to tell your child they can ask a police officer or firefighter for help.<\/p>\n
When you go someplace where you might get separated, agree on a place to meet. For example:<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t avoid talking about stranger safety because you\u2019re afraid of scaring your child. They already know that some things in life are scary. Talking about these things will make them feel more confident.<\/p>\n
Talking with your child will:<\/p>\n
Talk about how to deal with getting lost and stranger safety the way you talk about wearing helmets, seatbelts, and sitting in booster seats. A child is much more likely to be hurt by a car than a stranger.<\/p>\n
Have a family password or phrase \u2013 something so obscure that only you could possibly know it. This can be useful if:<\/p>\n
Our family password has never been used, but remains a powerful tool for all of us. It also brings a happy smile to my face as I remember my son\u2019s earnest face looking up at me, asking to be let in the house with his harvest.<\/p>\n
National Crime Prevention Council<\/p>\n
What to Teach Kids About Strangers<\/a><\/p>\n American Academy of Pediatrics<\/p>\n