The natural and inherent innocence of childhood makes children unprepared for certain dangers in the real world. Kidnappings or abuse are situations that you should instruct your children about, because sadly they are issues that are the order of the day about which no one is exempt. Summer is a particularly delicate time, as it is likely that during your vacation you will go to events or crowded public spaces where the chances of getting lost or interacting with strangers multiply.
Making your children aware of this danger involves explaining to them the need to follow certain behavior guidelines when faced with offers and questions from strangers. It is also convenient that you warn your closest family environment, that is, those people who help us in day-to-day care — picking them up from the camp, taking them to extracurricular activities — of the new safety regulations that you are going to instill in them. your children.
The main difficulty in explaining to your child to be wary of strangers stems from the fact that, for him, the parents are his role models and, therefore, he is incapable of imagining that another adult could harm him. He tries to explain to her, without drama, that there are crafty people out there who want to hurt people. You can use a parallel with dogs and tell them not to approach a person, unless they prove their good intentions.
One tactic to distinguish strangers from people you can trust is to help you memorize a password or security word. Share this slogan with family or friends who help you care for your children, so that the children only go with those who know them.
According to this article from You Are Mom, to avoid possible losses or kidnappings, it is vital that your children also identify those people they can trust if they find themselves in trouble with a stranger, such as the police or security guards.
The objective of rationally explaining to children the situations and dangers they may face on the street should always be to empower them, so that they know how to react, and never to scare them. A fundamental notion is to teach your children to say no to strangers. Tell your kids that those who don't know the safe word have to yell no! or help! if they are offered sweets or grabbed to ride in a car, to persuade possible kidnappers.
Of course, it's also important to naturally teach them what their genitals are and that it's not okay for anyone else to touch them, to reduce the chances of abuse.
The provision of personal data is a much more complicated topic to explain. It is important that they do not answer personal questions from others without having verified the safe word. On the other hand, in case of loss, it is a good idea to memorize your name, address and a telephone number, or at least, have it written down to show it to the people to whom we have previously told that they should go.
