Teaching Preschoolers About Stranger Danger

Teaching children to be safe, especially from strangers or in any other situation, is very important and an ever-changing challenge for parents. But sometimes, while teaching children to be safe, we end up making them anxious. So, how to teach your child to be safe from potential strangers and dangers?

In this article, we have discussed one of the very important topics, stranger danger for preschoolers and tips to teach them the same. Let’s read!

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What Is Stranger Danger?

Let’s understand the stranger danger meaning for children.

The term stranger danger is an idea that some kind of dangerous strangers are always around. The guide helps children to understand what it means for a person to be a stranger. It also serves as rules and safety tips for kids to protect themselves.

Many parents fear that teaching children about stranger danger may cause them to panic or be afraid. But keeping the children informed and knowing what to do when approached by a stranger can be helpful for them.

When To Teach Your Child About Stranger Danger?

Children these days are smart enough to know what’s happening around them. Therefore, children as young as 3-4 years old should be aware of stranger danger and how to deal with the situation in case they encounter a bad stranger.

Stranger Danger Rules For Preschoolers

• Do not take anything to eat from strangers.
• Do not give entry to strangers in your house.
• Do not get into strangers’ cars and go to their house alone.
• Look for a trusted adult or run and yell if a stranger makes you feel scared.
• Do not accept gifts from strangers.
• Do not ever go anywhere alone without informing your parents or trusted adults.
• Do break the rules if they are in danger.
• Tell your child a code word or sign that only you and your little one knows about. Your child can use it when they feel they are in danger and don’t want other people to know about it.

Easy Ways To Teach About Stranger Danger

Are you confused about how to teach stranger danger to preschoolers? In this section, we have covered some stranger danger teaching ideas for you. We hope these will be helpful in teaching your little one about stranger danger.

1. Use Your Thumb

The thumb is not just a part of the hand that help us to hold and pick things. You can teach your little one to use their thumb to speak their mind. They can tell what they feel about the person with thumbs up (when they feel safe around the person), a thumb sideways (when they are not sure about the person), or thumbs down (when they don’t feel safe around the person). This method will be very beneficial when your child needs to tell you how they are feeling about a relative or a family friend without using any words.

2. Safe & Unsafe Situations

Children must be talked to about situations when talking to a stranger is safe and when it’s not. For example, if you are standing in a supermarket with your child (in school uniform) and a stranger says that they used to go to the same school as your child, your child can talk to them as you are present over there. But, if your child is alone in the supermarket, it’s not safe to talk to a stranger and exchange details.

Who Are Safe Strangers For Kids?

It is important for kids to understand that some strangers are dangerous. But it is equally important to teach them about adults they can turn to in case they are on their own and are in trouble. These safe strangers can be:

• Strangers wearing a uniform, like police officers, traffic wardens, etc.
• People in safe buildings, like banks, libraries, supermarkets, post offices, etc.

Stranger Danger Activities For Preschoolers

Teach your child about stranger danger with the help of the following activity.

1. Role Play

Indulge your kid in role play, where you will enact as a stranger and teach your child how they should respond in different situations. For example, you can act as a stranger giving them the treat to eat. Here you should teach your child not to take any kind of eatables from strangers.

Books About Stranger Danger For Kids

Yes. You read it right! Reading books about strangers with your children and discussing what you are reading can help children to learn a lot about stranger danger. Here are some books you can read with your little one:

• A Stranger in the Park by Stuart Fitts and Donna Day Asay (1999)
• Never Talk to Strangers by Irma Joyce and George Buckett (2009)
• The Berenstain Bears Learn About Strangers by Stan and Jan Berenstain (1985)
• Once Upon a Dragon: Stranger Safety for Kids (and Dragons) by Jean E. Pendziwol and Martine Gourbault (2006)

Tips For Teaching Your Preschooler About Stranger Danger

In this section, we have covered some stranger danger safety tips for children. Let’s take a look at them.

• Tell them that they should avoid walking anywhere alone.
• Ensure that your child knows their name, address, and phone number.
• Teach your child not to keep secrets from you and always tell you if something happens.
• If they feel that someone is following them, try to remember the license plate number and immediately tell a trusted adult.
• Try activities like role-playing scenarios with your kids and give them opportunities to practice the skills and ways to protect them in such situations.

With these activities, your child will understand clearly about trust, safety and precaution. It is of utmost importance that children are made aware of the dangers of trusting a stranger and must be taught to interact with people only under their parents knowledge.

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