Child Safety
Do your children know about strangers? Are you comfortable letting your children answer the door, telephone, or stay home alone?
Talking About Safety with Children
Take a minute to go over the following safety tips with your children. They could prevent your child from becoming a victim of a crime. It is important that you give them examples they will understand. Use your home, neighborhood, or school as a setting. Make sure that your child understands that his/her safety is important to you and use the following points to encourage discussion about this issue.
A stranger is someone that your child does not know. Parents and guardians need to determine who is and isn't a stranger. Explain that strangers come in many shapes and sizes. They may wear nice clothes, different clothes, or even a uniform.
The uniform issue is confusing to children, so take time to explain the mailman is a stranger even though he comes to the door almost every day. This does not imply that people who wear uniforms will harm children, but they still need to know that if they do not know the person in the uniform, they are still strangers.
Talking to Strangers
- Never take anything, such as candy, ice cream, or money, from a stranger.
- Never talk to strangers.
- Never take a ride from strangers even if they say the parent sent them for any reason (sick, working late, etc).
- If a stranger asks for help finding a lost pet, classmate, adult, etc, run away and tell a parent or trusted adult.
- If a stranger asks for directions - stay away. Strangers should not ask children for directions.
- If they are in a car and bother you, run in the opposite direction.
- If a stranger tries to follow you on foot or tries to grab you, run away, scream, and tell a parent or a trusted adult.
- Never give your address or personal information to someone you do not know.
Safety at Home
- Never open the door to a stranger.
- If a stranger knocks on the door or rings the doorbell, tell your child to look out the peephole or call out "who's there?"
- If it's for you, your child should tell the visitor to wait, and leave the door locked until you are available.
- If you are not home, your child should tell the visitor you are busy and to come back later. Never open the door!
- If the visitor won't go away and your child is scared, tell your child to call 911.
Explain to your children how to safely walk to and from school.
- Always walk with a friend. There is safety in numbers. Strangers usually pick on children that are alone.
- If you think that you are in danger or being followed, yell and run into the nearest store, house, or back to school. Tell an adult what happened.
- Always stick to the same route. Don't take shortcuts and never hitchhike.
- Parents should walk the route to see that it is completely safe.
Explain to your child that if someone is hurt, very sick, or there is a car accident or fire, call 911.
Demonstrate to them how to dial 911 and explain that a dispatcher will ask a few questions to get the help they need. Tell your child if he or she ever gets lost to go to the nearest phone and call 911.
Please emphasize that 911 is used for emergencies only.