We all want our children to be safe. So teach your child about the Dangers of Strangers…….

The golden rule is to try and teach you child about showing caution and not filling them with fear. This can be quite tricky but Superdads will guide you on how to achieve this goal.

Children around the age of 5 are normally oblivious to many dangers that the world can throw at them and that in itself is part of the pleasure of being a child. As dads we don’t want to take this feeling away we only want to edge it with an air of caution. Putting fear into your child will only encourage them to become withdrawn as well as making sleeping problematic.

Before we go any further I have to mention a cool invention that is available via the link below. Your child gets a wristband in the form of a cuddly toy and you get a keychain. When the two are a over a certain distance apart the alarm will sound – It’s an excellent idea that will help you when you’re surrounded by a million and one distractions.

http://www.iwantoneofthose.com/gorgeous-gifts/lost-me-find-me-child-alarms/index.html

So what are the rules we should tell our children?

This depends on the circumstance so first of all we’ll look at what your child should do if they get lost:

Stay where they are….You should tell your child that if they cannot find you when you’re out and about that they should stay put. If you’re in a shop, they should remain in the shop. If you’re in the Park, then your child should stay in the park. Follow this rule with a firm assurance that you will be looking for them and will find them as soon as possible.

Shout for your parents….You should encourage your child to call out if they cannot find you. It will not only draw attention to them but will also help you find them quickly.

If your child can see a uniformed person, whether it be a police officer, a security guard or a shop assistant you should encourage your child to approach them for supervision until you can find them.

There are not only rules for the child, there are also rules for us Superdads to follow. The five key rules are:

Stay Calm – take deep breaths, concentrate on the task of finding your child and try not to think the worst.

Call Out  – You’ve asked your child to call you so why not do the same. Your child may not be able to see you but may well be close enough to hear you.

Seek Help – Ask anyone of stature who is willing to help to find your child. Maybe put an announcement over the public address system if you’re in a shop, find the park warden in the park or contact security. Ask other parents that you see to help you.

Retrace your steps – Go back to where you last saw your child. They may just be dawdling behind.

Call for Police assistance – If you still haven’t found your child after several minutes you should dial 999 and get the police out to help in the search. It’s not because you think something terrible has happened but because they have much more resource than you have in finding your child quickly and safely.

Secondly we’ll look at advice specifically for dealing with strangers:

Advise your child not to talk to strangers. Let you child know that strangers are anyone that they haven’t seen or met before.

Don’t accept anything from strangers. Tell your child that they should run away from anyone trying to offer them anything, including sweets and gifts. They should also scream and shout if the stranger persists. You must tell you child though that it is okay to accept things from people you know.

Never go anywhere with a stranger. Don’t get into their car, don’t help them look for a lost puppy and don’t help them with directions. Tell your child to move away from the stranger as quickly as they can making as much noise as they can in the process.

Stay in sight and stay close. Let your child know that they must always be able to see you when you’re out and about. Tell them that they need to see you and that you need to see them.

Tell a trusted adult. You should always encourage your child to tell you about their encounters with other people. You should particularly encourage then to tell you about things that made them feel uncomfortable and things that they thought were wrong. Taking about your childs feeling regularly not only gives you time to bond but also allows you to identify anything that is not appropriate.

Use a code word. There may be a time when you need, what is a stranger to your child to be trusted by your child. For example, if there is an emergency and you need someone to pick your child up from school. In this scenario it is a good idea to have had a password set up with your child so that they know it is okay to go with this person if the person tells your child the correct word.

One final tip…..

Young children respond well to role-play. You should set the scene where a stranger is asking your child to come with him or her – your child needs to know it’s not just men that fit the category of stranger. Now ask your child to show you how they would say ‘No’ if asked to help a stranger. Praise and reassure your child as you do this. You must now emphasize that although it is unlikely to happen, this is what must be done if someone unknown ever approaches them.

Author: SuperDads

We’re here to make a difference. Superdads not only offers advice but we are her e to promote the importance of fatherhood. Many people are oblivious to the fact that Dads really do matter and this is something we’d like to put right.

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