| Stranger Danger... A Terrible Message for Our Kids! |
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| Written by Jeff Griesemer | |
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Unfortunately, for over two decades our children have been hearing the message of "Don't talk to strangers". While "Stranger Danger" might have a memorable ring to it, it is one of the worst programs ever developed to help protect our children. The concept of protecting our kids by making them afraid of everyone is a national tragedy and one that Child Rescue Network (CRN) is committed to ending. The facts are very clear.While predators do indeed target our children, a child is overwhelmingly more likely to be victimized by someone they know. 34% of all rape victims in the US are under 12 years-old! Over 90% of those children are assaulted, not by the proverbial stranger, but by someone the child knows and many times even trusts. Indeed your child may someday need a stranger's help to save their life. So please, if you're teaching "Stranger Danger" STOP!! The message we need to be giving our children is that most people are good and would never do anything to hurt a child. However there are some bad people out there and if we teach our kids how to recognize potentially dangerous situations and how to react if necessary we can help them make decisions that could prevent them from being victimized. Children must learn to trust their instincts and if something "feels" wrong, they need to get away from that situation as quickly as possible, and then tell mom or dad. While we want our kids to respect people, we also need to teach our children it is okay to say "NO" to an adult when they feel uncomfortable. Secrets = Blackmail: Instruct your kids that if someone asks them to keep a secret from mom and dad they should immediately tell as this is a huge warning sign. Many times predators will test a potential victim to see just how far they can go and not get caught. So any secret is potentially dangerous. Explain the difference between a secret and a surprise. A surprise, such as what mom got dad for his birthday, is something that will at some point no longer be secret. The secret to worry about is the one that they are instructed to never tell. The best way to help prevent your child from being victimized is to make sure the lines of communication are always open. Your child needs to know that you are their biggest advocate and their safety is your number one concern. Can your child tell you everything they feel or are concerned about without being judged or criticized? If not you, then who are they telling? Child Rescue Network educates parents on specific methods they can utilize to better protect their children. Churches, PTA, Home Owner's Associations, and other parent groups can simply contact CRN to schedule a FREE safety seminar. 877.209.KIDS ext. 83 |
