What Is A Stranger?
A stranger is someone that you do not know or don’t know very well.
A stranger comes in all various shapes and sizes.
Examples of a stranger
A well-dressed business man
A well - dressed business woman
An elderly person
Teenager
Construction worker
Ice-cream man in an ice-cream truck
Anyone you don’t know is considered a stranger. In fact, a stranger can be anyone you see frequently in your neighborhood or community you don’t know can be just as much a stranger than you or your child has never seen before. However, not all strangers are considered bad strangers. It is difficult to teach a child which person is considered a good stranger or bad stranger. This may only confuse the child. Many adults have been deceived by people they did not know and later found out the person was bad. If a stranger can deceive an adult, just think of the greater chances a child has in being deceived. Statistics show that most children are abducted by people known to them in some type of way. It is best that you teach your kids what to do when approached by a stranger to help save your child's life.
Walking To School Or Waiting On A Bus
It is very important that kids do not walk alone anywhere. Kids should always walk in groups of two or more. However, if your kids are walking to school or waiting on a bus at the bus stop and someone they don’t know approaches them and the child does not feel comfortable, teach your children the following;
If alone, quickly look around to see if they notice other kids in a group and run over to join them.
Look for an adult or a cross guard walking kids to school and quickly run over to join them. Be sure to instruct the child to let the adult know that a stranger they don’t know approached them and they did not feel comfortable.
If a stranger approaches your child in a vehicle and says to the child, “your parents have been hurt in an accident and they ask for me to pick you up. The stranger firmly states to get in the car.” Instruct the child “Not” to get in the car with someone they don’t know or know well. Once the child gets in the car, the percentage of ever seeing the child again is next to none.
Teach your child to say no and run fast to school, seek a person with a child or a public place with a lot of people to be safe.
Instruct the child to report the incident immediately when they are safe and ask if they can use the phone in order for the child to confirm their parents are safe. Also to find out if the parents have someone picking them up.
Establish a code between you and the child. In the event a true emergency arises and you have to send someone to pick up your child, teach your child only to go with the friend if he or she know the pass code.
Adults in cars should always be on the lookout for their kids in the street. Don’t expect kids to look out for themselves. Do not allow your child to wear head phones, text, or play games on their phone while walking to school.
When dropping your child off at school, don’t leave until you see that your child is safe inside.