Stranger Smart

Today we spent some time in the library learning about being stranger smart.  I am still getting used to this terminology because I am used to the old stranger danger.  While stranger danger is easy to remember, I do agree with the change to becoming stranger smart.  We don't want our kids to feel threatened when they are in a public place, but we do want them to be smart about their surroundings.  

Some of the highlights of today's presentation:

• Have a family password.  You should have a secret word that you could give to a neighbor or a friend if for some reason you needed them to pick up your child.  That secret word could let a child know that they can trust the person picking them up.  Teach children not to go with non-family member that doesn't know your password.
• Children were told about not accepting candy, money, or toys from adults that they don't know.  They also were told that adults should ask for other adults to help them and not ask children to help them.  The example was a stranger asking them to help find a lost dog.
• We talked about being loud and saying "You are not my mom or dad" if they feel in danger and not just whining like they could be "throwing a fit."  We also talked about "becoming big" if a stranger tried to put them in a car or through a doorway.
• Students were instructed to not go outside if they ever became separated in a store and to look for a trusted adult.  We reinforce that a trusted adult is normally someone who is wearing a name tag or a uniform with identification on it.

All in all it was a good presentation with some excellent acting by the teachers performing the skits.  We don't want to raise paranoid children, but we want to keep our kids safe and we want to prepare them in case they found themselves in danger.  I am sure that you will be with your kids on Halloween, but if you have older kids or the older kids take your younger kids please remind them not to get into a car to avoid weather or get a ride further up the street.  Let's have a safe Halloween!