Instructing Kids About Security and “Stranger Hazard”
My daughter’s preschool instructor just lately talked about they had been studying about “stranger hazard.”
The kids had been out on the playground when somebody strolling a canine caught their consideration. They stayed within the playground, however gathered on the fence with pleasure to see and greet the canine and proprietor. However it didn’t cease there. The questions ensued from these curious preschool minds, “What’s its identify?” “What sort of canine is it?” Who may blame them? However when does a pleasant greeting turn into an excessive amount of when you find yourself additionally attempting to show your little one about strangers? The academics distracted them again to one thing within the playground so the proprietor and canine may transfer on with the day, however I’ve encountered comparable “stranger hazard” eventualities many instances since.
For instance, as soon as my daughter settles into preschool for the day, she turns into a social butterfly. We love this about her persona and encourage it, nevertheless it’s been tough getting her to grasp boundaries. For instance, I’ve heard from academics that she has A LOT of questions for different mother and father dropping off or selecting up their kids within the classroom. I’m so glad she’s comfy on this atmosphere, as she needs to be, however I additionally need her to be respectful of different individuals’s time, and I would like her to have the ability to distinguish this secure atmosphere from others that is probably not secure.
We’ve mentioned this along with her academics, and within the classroom the academics discuss with the preschoolers about these different conditions exterior of the classroom, and the way they should examine with their grownup first earlier than speaking to somebody they don’t know. Simpler mentioned than accomplished—no less than for us! It’s definitely been a problem imposing this in our common day-to-day.
Our daughter makes certain she’s holding us to the identical requirements and guidelines we’ve imposed on her—this all the time makes issues attention-grabbing! At some point I used to be grocery purchasing with each my daughters and I used to be explaining to my preschooler why we couldn’t purchase one thing she had her eye on. A lady purchasing alongside stopped me to share sort phrases about how she remembers these loopy days and sometimes misses them now that her daughters are grown and out of the home. After a quick alternate, I turned again to our grocery purchasing solely to have my daughter query if I knew that lady. I attempted to elucidate the distinction between her speaking to strangers and adults speaking to strangers, however I additionally suppose it went in a single ear and out the opposite earlier than she had set her eyes on one thing else she needed off the cabinets!
How and when do you train your younger kids about stranger hazard, and why it’s okay for adults to speak to strangers, however not okay for them to take action? Have you ever tried any “stranger hazard actions” as a household?
I’m a mother of two, worker of Vivid Horizons and a foodie who likes to prepare dinner, journey, and chortle. In my free time, I prefer to faux I understand how to make use of my DSLR like a professional and do mainly all issues inventive (main DIY-er right here). I’m excited to share a number of the ups-and-downs of parenthood as my husband, two daughters, two canines and I discover life as a household!
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