The world is so much scarier than when I was a kid. What kind of things can I teach my child to help make her safer?
-Anne L., Scottsdale, Arizona

Headlines about kidnappings and pedophiles terrify every parent. Let’s face it, this is a scary time to raise children. While there are no guarantees, there are a few simple things we can do to help our kids learn to handle risky situations and be less likely to be harmed. Here are a few safety tips to teach your child and use as a family. 

Specify the term “stranger” 

Law enforcement officers caution parents about using the term “stranger.” It has such a negative connotation like “boogey man” that kids may think of strangers as being “yucky” or weird-looking. In other words, they may think anyone in a uniform, or with a pleasant, friendly face, couldn’t possibly be a stranger. Instead, make a family rule to never go with someone who is not a “family friend.” Some parents describe a family friend as someone who the child has personally seen their mom or dad talking with – or even better – who has personally visited you in your home. [Leigh, I have questions about this family friend thing. Aren’t most kids assaulted by someone known to them, like a neighbour or cousin’s friend? And while you don’t want your kid to go with some random guy in a fake firefighter uniform, don’t you want to teach them that it’s ok to go to a police officer etc if they’re in trouble?]

Keep personal information private

Tell your child that personal information such as her name, birthdate, phone number, address (and later email address and password) should never be given out to anyone other than teachers, doctors [coaches, karate instructors, Brownie leaders…] and other family members. Also, don’t put your child’s name on the outside of her jacket or backpack. This is so a predator can’t easily read the name and pretend that he knows the child already.