Parenting: Explaining to children how to behave when approached by a stranger
Created: 01/15/2023, 19:00
By: Natalie Hull Drawbar
In order for children to know what to do and how to react appropriately to strangers, as a parent you should talk to them about certain rules of conduct.
It's a situation that no parent wants to imagine: their own child is approached by a stranger and asked to go with them.
As hard as this thought is, it is also important that parents deal with this possibility and, above all, prepare their offspring for it - similar to the situation when a child gets lost.
The more open parents are about this, the better they can protect their children from possible dangers.
Parenting: Explaining to children how to behave when approached by a stranger
Parents should convey to their children: Never get into a stranger's car, but walk on quickly or shout "Mama" and "Papa" loudly.
This attracts attention and suggests to the stranger that the parents are nearby.
(Iconic image) © Monkey Business 2/Imago
Caution is particularly important when children fearlessly move away from their parents, for example when shopping in the city, or when they are alone on their way to school.
Parents should then set up and discuss certain rules and support in order to prepare their children for difficult or even dangerous situations with strangers.
According to the Bavarian Police and the Bavarian State Ministry of the Interior, for Sport and Integration, it is important that children know: never go with other adults without parental consent.
Even if it is the supposedly nice neighbor that the child has already seen.
It is the parents who identify people who are trustworthy to the child.
All others are initially strangers who should only be addressed with "Sie" and not with "Du".
Children and strangers: Parents should take note and do this
Even if parents don't want to think about it, emergency situations should be practiced.
This helps your child to react appropriately and to slow down dangers.
And in the end it's all about: What can and should a child do when a stranger approaches them, speaks to them or asks them to take action.
Don't miss anything: You can find everything to do with health in the regular newsletter from our partner 24vita.de.
According to the Bavarian police, what parents can do to prevent this:
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Communicate to your child that they should never get into a stranger's car, even if the stranger says they have been instructed by their parents or that they know a relative.
Children should know that their parents would never hire a stranger to pick them up from school.
It is best not to put your child's name on their clothing or satchel so that it is visible from the outside.
A stranger, who may not be well-meaning, often uses the child's name in an attempt to establish trust.
In the event of an emergency, practice with your child an age-appropriate description of people and vehicles, for example clothing, appearance, size, age of the person as well as color, size, make and license plate number of the car.
Children should keep their distance and avoid them as much as possible from strangers whom they intuitively have a “strange feeling” about.
If your child is on their way to school or home from school alone, they should always take a fixed and direct route, the duration of which you as parents are aware of - if there is a delay, you could follow or follow it.
Together with your child, determine so-called “life rafts” on the way to school or home from school, i.e. shops, medical practices, pharmacies, gas stations or other.
Your child could seek help here in an emergency.
Even during class time, your child should not leave the school premises without consulting you, the parents.
Communicate to your child how important punctuality and mutual agreements are.
After school you go straight home, unless something else has been agreed with you.
Learn the police emergency number 110, which is free of charge, as well as the telephone number of one or two direct and trustworthy family members by heart with your child – this way the child can call for help at the next opportunity, for example at the bakery or the pharmacy.
The family members concerned should be informed.
Practice making an emergency call to the police with your child: give their first and last name – where is the child?
- What happened?
- Do not hang up until the police officer on the phone says so.
This article only contains general information on the respective health topic and is therefore not intended for self-diagnosis, treatment or medication. In no way does it replace a visit to the doctor. Unfortunately, our editors are not allowed to answer individual questions about clinical pictures.
