How To Teach Kids About Strangers

If you’ve found yourself wondering how to teach kids about strangers, whether or not your kids can identify a stranger, or if they’ll know when they’re in an unsafe environment, keep reading for my tips. 

I don’t know if it’s just me, but after having kids, the world felt HUGE!!

How am I supposed to keep these tiny humans safe?!

The anxiety that sets in when you’re in public with your kids can be extremely overwhelming. You develop a 6th sense and still it doesn’t feel like enough!!

Unless they’ve been taught, there’s a good chance your child won’t know what’s happening, until it’s happening. (Ugh, it flips my stomach every damn time. I try not to think about it but I can be a paranoid mess when it comes to my kids.)

Like all things you get from the internet, take this with a grain of salt. This is what I’ve personally used in my household to teach my kids about strangers. 

Warning: sensitive subjects may be talked about here.

Disclaimer: I am not a professional, just a mom.

This post may contain affiliate links. That means we may make a small commission on items purchased through links in this post at no extra cost to you! Full Disclosure here.

FIRST, WHAT IS A STRANGER?

Before you teach your kids how to avoid strangers, they have to know what or who are strangers. 

A stranger – Anyone you do not know or recognize. 

A friendly stranger is still a stranger.

Unfortunately in the real world, we have to be cautious of women, young adults, and even people we’ve met before. 

IMPORTANT: Don’t compare a “bad stranger” to someone who looks “scary.”

Bad strangers sometimes look normal and nice. 

BE SPECIFIC 

We want to be specific when we tell our kids who NOT to talk to. We don’t want them scared of the world and avoiding basic human interactions. 

Let them know they can speak to strangers when: 

  • someone holds the door open 
  • greeting in passing
  • with a parent

Kids need to know that not all strangers are dangerous.

Why? Because if your child gets lost, they need to know they can ask a stranger for help.

Be specific in the kind of stranger you want them to seek help from. 

Example: If lost in a grocery store, find a worker or a parent that is with their kids. 

Choose your words very carefully.

TRUST THEIR INSTINCTS

They should know that any time they feel “off” and uncomfortable, to trust what their body is telling them and react. 

Even adults they know can make them uncomfortable. For their own safety, they should still always treat them like a “bad stranger.” 

IDENTIFY SAFE ADULTS

There are strangers that they can go to for help like police officers, teachers, firefighters, etc. 

Make it clear that although they may not know this person, they will be safe with them until you arrive.

WARNING SIGNS OF SUSPICIOUS BEHAVIOR 

Help them recognize how to point out a suspicious stranger with examples like the following:

  • Someone asking them to keep a secret
  • Adults asking them for help
  • Someone asking them to disobey their parents
  • Someone asking them a lot of questions
  • Anyone that makes them uncomfortable, including other kids

It’s definitely a lot that we’re hoping they’ll always remember and it might be overwhelming. When trying to teach your kids something new, it’s easiest to introduce it in a natural way. 

Kinda like making a ridiculous face after unplugging your hair dryer so you remember later on that you actually unplugged it. 

Role-play is a good way to get the whole family involved and make it easier on the kids when trying to instill so much info. Here are some scenarios you can choose to act out:

  • A woman in the neighborhood inviting them inside their house
  • A car slowing down next to them while alone
  • An adult asking them to go into a room alone with them

If your child is unable to learn through role-play scenarios, I’ve listed two books that go over stranger danger through two different perspectives.

WHAT TO DO WHEN THEY COME ACROSS A STRANGER

Let’s face it, things happen. There are some real sickos in the world and as much as we may try, we can’t have our eyes on our kids 24/7.

If your child is ever in an uncomfortable situation or a stranger approaches them, you want them to be LOUD. Tell them not to be afraid to scream as loud as they can to scare away the stranger.

Not just scream something loud, but scream something that will grab everyones attention. Like FIRE. 

The goal is for them to grab others attention and get themselves to safety. If they cant find you, they should find a “safe stranger” and wait for you to arrive.

They should react first and think after. 

Recognize. Scream. Run.

So, that’s a wrap on my approach to teaching kids to about strangers. 

Although these discussions are difficult and scary to have, they’re important.

Teaching your kids about strangers should be done as early in their life as possible and be talked about often.

They may not be old enough to know, but they are always old enough to learn.

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