Kids and strangers

[Serena]

I was working today and this little boy came up to me and was talking about how he was learning about stranger danger at school. Now, his mom was shopping and wasn't paying a whole lot of attention.
Anyway, when I was able to get a word in, I told him that I was a stranger. That he didn't know me, I may look nice, but he didn't know if I was or not.
He backed up so fast it was kind of funny.

Make sure your kids know who and what a stranger is. It's not just some scary looking person hiding in the dark.

He went and told his mom and she said something in spanish, I don't know, but he stuck closer to her for a while.

 

[Philagoofy]

It's sad that nowadays we have to keep children from being friendly. It must be confusing, who to trust if they get lost and can't find a police officer to help them.

 

[EeyoreFan1]

It's sad that nowadays we have to keep children from being friendly. It must be confusing, who to trust if they get lost and can't find a police officer to help them.

 

[fanofdisney]

We were at a play area in the mall, and a little boy approached me and told me his name and address. I told his mother, b/c I would certainly want to know if my son was telling people that!

It is so true that kids think of strangers as scary, mean looking men. Sweet little ladies lure kids as well! I teach my son not to fall for any "tricks" as well, such as needing help looking for a lost dog, or that his parents are hurt and sent them. I just hope he takes the advice. That is what's scary to me!

 

[Hannathy]

They shouldn't be giving out their full name and address but I see nothing wrong with kids TALKING to other people. We always encourage ours to talk to anyone they want just don't go anywhere with them. We don't have to keep kids from being friendly that is just over-reacting. the statistics do not back up all the paranoia.

 

[mommy*RN]

My DS who is 4 is an extremely friendly kid. I talked myself blue in the face trying to tell him not to talk to strangers...who a stranger is...blah blah blah. It didn't help. He'll chat with anyone who will pay attention to him. He doesn't give personal information like our address or his last name. He'll just tell them how mommy said the "s" word after slamming her finger in a door or how his sister has a poopy diaper...anything. I taught him that it is OKAY to talk to strangers as long as mom or dad are around. I also taught him he should NEVER leave with a stranger...even if they have candy. He has repeated this to me a few different times when prompted so I think he gets it...

I should add I only had one person tell him he shouldn't be talking to them because she was a stranger. It really seemed to hurt DS's feelings...but it didn't break his spirit...

 

[Tigger&Belle]

They shouldn't be giving out their full name and address but I see nothing wrong with kids TALKING to other people. We always encourage ours to talk to anyone they want just don't go anywhere with them. We don't have to keep kids from being friendly that is just over-reacting. the statistics do not back up all the paranoia.

I totally agree! I'm with my young kids to protect them and I never tell them not to talk to strangers. There have been demonstrations that show that kids don't know what strangers really are. When my niece was a child, she turned down a ride with her grandmother because she thought her grandmother was a stranger (this was back when a child her age could walk home from school alone).

 

[golfgal]

You said you were working, did you have a nametag/uniform on? One thing they teach kids is that if you are lost to find someone that works in the store to help. Maybe he was testing the waters?

 

[noodleknitter]

I believe kids need to learn to talk with strangers. It may be a stranger that saves their life someday. I've taught them to trust their heart, and to look at a situation and make a decision as to who they can trust. We practice it whether at a park, or at WDW. So far so good.

 

[KelNottAt]

I think the little boy in this story needs a stranger danger lesson http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15124795/.

And the couple who hired the babysitter need many lessons (of a different sort). Same with the babysitter.

And the school needs something more serious than "lessons" for dismissing the wrong child to a stranger.