Talking to My Daughters About Strangers

Check out "The Safe Side; Stranger Safety" hosted by America's Most Wanted John Walsh and Baby Einstein creater Julie Clark. It is excellent for kids ages 4 and up. It is done in fun and friendly way, but pulls no punches when it comes to getting into the really important issues of stranger safety today. It deals with every aspect of stranger safety imaginable in very frank but child friendly way including how a child should avoid trouble and seek help when dealing with difficult and dangerous situations involving not just total strangers on the street but acquaintance/friends of family situations, abduction dangers, school safety, safety after school and away from home, what to do when danger comes to your house and you're home alone or babysitting, how to identify dangerous situations and what to do if you are in trouble.

Target and most stores that carry children's books and videos carry this. Otherwise order one at www.thesafeside.com

I just did a little researching on the interenet, here is some book sites I came up with:
http://www.annefine.co.uk/books/stranger.php
http://www.dangerspot.co.uk/strangerdangers.htm

The second site is also a wonderful site full of info of all kinds of "dangers" for kids.

I'm sure there is more out there. I would also encourage to set up a special and unique word or phrase that the child can remember. It should only be between you or another person who is ok to pick up your child. She should not go with that person unless they can tell her the unique word/phrase upon request, and if you ever happen to have a falling out with any grown ups that you have divulged that secret word/phrase with, then change it immediately!!
Hope this helps
Melissa

I grew up with Brite Music's Safety Kids and bought it for my boys. It teaches kids about safety with songs and is a LOT fun to listen to- not at all scary. Studies have proven that people, especially children, learn better through music. Twenty years after my mom bought me the set, I could still remember the words to the songs.
There are 3 book/cd sets available and volume one is about personal safety. Here's a link to the details and song samples: http://secure.britemusic.com/Product.aspx?ID=1
Feel free to contact me if you want more information.
Good luck!

I dont have any book suggestions, but just talked to my kids and said that most people are nice....but sometimes people can be mean, just like kids can sometimes be mean. If she is in preschool you could use that as an example, as I am sure she has some nice and some not so nice kids in her class. Then I said that although most people are nice there are some mean ones out there who could try to hurt you and so it's important to stay close to mom so that I can protect you. The hard part is that they see us talking to strangers all day at the stores, banks, resturants etc. So I tried to say, that grown ups are better able to tell who is mean and who is nice and that sometimes it's okay to say a few words to someone (like saying hello to the checkout lady at Target) IF MOM IS NEAR, but NEVER touch them or follow them. Good luck!

I just started the Stranger Danger talk with my son (almost 5)
I bought this book called "Never talk to Strangers" by Irma Joyce(through Scholastic book orders).

It's really cute and geared toward preschool age kids. It's just and introduction and does not cover the FACTS of what can happen when you are in a stranger situation.

But I found it to be a nice starting point-- to start talking about Strangers.
J.

Hi S.,

The Berenstain Bears Learn About Strangers may behelpful. Since my kids could talk we discussed grown ups we can trust. Then when my son was in preschool, the local police came in to discuss stranger safety and had him scared of everyone... thanks guys, lol. Anyways, the book explains how most people are nice but we should always be careful just in case. It's the perspective I've found easiet for kids to understand and have used this book to wrap up stranger discussions with my preschool students. Seems to help with anxiety they feel about "bad guys".

Good luck!

P.S.
Strangers is a scary topic. After you get book recommendations, you may want to thumb through them at your library first to make sure they suit your daughter's temperament... so she won't get nightmares or anything.

Ok, that's it... really :)