s/o teaching LO about "tricky people"

SunAndRain

DD is nearly two and is very social. She confidently walks up to adults and even asks them for help...or for their food! I don't want to stifle this quality in her (well, maybe the asking for their food part) but at the same time, I think the time may be near when we will need to teach her about not talking to strangers. I hear parents use the term "tricky people" now.

Would love to hear how you teach your children to be safe from strangers. Thanks in advance for sharing your wisdom!!

emberlee3

See my book rec in other thread. There are strangers that children can and should talk to and cooperate with. The book is very specific and concrete.

dashofreality

The idea is mainly based on the fact that the vast majority of abductions/assaults are carried out by someone you know. So not only is teaching kids to not talk to strangers pretty pointless, it can give them a false sense that if someone isn't a stranger they can be trusted.

The 'tricky' people idea is based mainly on predator's tactics. Generally speaking adults do not ask children for help - I lost my puppy, can you help me look? Tricky people will ask you to keep secrets. We don't have secrets. You can keep surprises (bday presents/surprise parties) but no secrets. Also we will have a code word. If someone every comes up to my kid and tells them that I am hurt and they need to come with them, they will have a code word. Just a way to go beyond strangers = bad.

bunny731

Tricky people know you may have a password and tell the kid to come closer so the stranger, 'can whisper it' to the kid.

ppants

We also discussed with kids that we'll believe them if they come to us and someone won't hurt our family if they talk about anything.