Teaching Kids About Strangers. Part 1
Hi, my name is Mamta and I’m a Paranoid Parent. (“Hi Mamta.”)
I live in constant trepidation of child kidnappers and predators; one’s lurking behind the bushes, quietly watching and another disguised themselves as a normal, nice person integrated into regular society.
Thanks to the abundance of horrific, real life stories of children being abducted on their way home from school, while playing in their neighborhood or sometimes even from their own backyards; thanks to television shows like Dateline: To Catch a Predator, and recently watched movies like The Lovely Bones, I have to admit that I, #1 trust NO ONE and #2 NEVER let my children out of my sight.
I sometimes think I’m borderline obsessive when it comes to locking all the doors and windows at night for fear that someone will quietly break into my house while I’m sleeping and take my child. I don’t ever let Serophina go on play dates without me. In my mind no one is more qualified to keep her safe or is aware of her surroundings as much as I am. I can predict imminent danger and protect accordingly, and I don’t trust anyone else to do the same.
My husband thinks I’m overprotective but I feel like my fears are reasonable and justified. I remember hearing a story about a little girl that was snatched from her neighborhood so fast that the wheels on her bike were still spinning when they realized she was gone. We’ve all heard stories like these, they’re endless, a new one everyday.
One time when I still lived in Texas I went to a website where you can look up registered sex offenders that live in your area. I typed in my address and was shocked to see the computer screen littered with red dots, each one indicating a sex offender that lived within a ten-mile radius of my family and me.
As soon as Serophina could understand the concept of strangers, I started teaching her what to do if we were at a public place and someone that she didn’t know picked her up and took off. We’ve even practiced it at home. She knows to shout as loud as she can, “You’re not my mom! You’re not my dad!” so that, God forbid, if she was ever in that situation, people around her would know she was really being kidnapped, and not just a child throwing a tantrum.
We’ve also talked to her a little bit about strangers, she’ll be four years old in a couple months, but that’s still pretty young. We don’t want to overwhelm or confuse her yet. I guess you could say we’re just planting the seeds and as she gets older we’ll explain more about how to deal with strangers. But overall for her age I think she has a very good sense of awareness.
Stay tuned to Part 2 of my blog, Serophina’s latest encounter with a stranger.
I admire your approach to teaching your daughter about strangers. What a great idea to teach her what to shout if she is (heaven forbid) in a kidnapping situation. And I definitely don’t think you’re being paranoid or over-protective.
Thanks Catherine. I guess I’d rather be safe than sorry, and I feel better knowing that she could help herself to some extent if she ever needed to. If only we could put them in a bubble!