My Mother-in-Law gave the video "The Safe Side" to our kids one Christmas. I was a little apprehensive, because while I want to talk to them about stranger safety, I don't want to scare them. I watched it with them and I was blown away by how well done it was!
In this video produced by John Walsh and Julie Clark, the super-silly "Safe Side Super Chick" disarmingly goes through some great guidelines for stranger safety without getting too scary. The main message is that just by looking at someone, we can't tell whether they want to help or hurt us. She encourages parents and kids to categorize people into three groups.
- Safe-Side Adult: Immediate family or someone your parents have told you is safe. She encourages you to make a list of about three-four adults in this category, so your child will know for sure. If I am ever going to leave her with someone, I always say, "Today, Martha is your Safe-Side Adult" Just so there is no confusion.
- Don't Know: "Someone you don't know" Simple.
- Kinda Know: "Someone you know, but is not your "Safe-Side Adult." ie. coach, a friend's dad, Girl Scout leader, one of your mom's friends.
They also go over:
- Your "safe-side circle", which is a radius around his/her SS Adult within which your child should stay.
- What to do if a Don't Know tries to talk to you, or get you to go somewhere.
- What to do if someone knocks on the door when the parent is in another room.
- What to do if a Kinda Know tries to get you to go with them without a parent telling you so.
In the mean time, The Safe Side works for me.
How have you approached stranger safety with your kids?
For more Works For Me Wednesday, visit Rocks In My Dryer
My other WFMW posts:
Organizing Toys
Homemade Tomato Sauce
Save Half on Groceries
Nightly Routine
12 ~POST A COMMENT!:
This is a great tip! You can never be too careful with your kids.
Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for the recommendation! I've been at a loss as to how to approach this without scaring my child. I'll check this out!
We've really been struggling with how to handle this issue with our kids too - thanks for the great tip! :)
I've been considering this video-- I'm glad to hear a good review of it!
Wow - I just ordered this video on Monday and it's on its way. I'm glad to hear your review of it and that it's a god one.
P.S. Something for you in my Sept. 25th post : )
This is so important!
With my kids, we have mostly talked about what to do if they get lost, since they usually don't go places without me. I tell them to look for a mama or grandma with kids with her.
Another area of concern is siblings of friends & and friends of older siblings. My DH worked at a treatment center for Juvee Sex offenders, and most of those kids had molested either their little brother's or sister's friends, or their friend's little brothers or sisters.
Great timing! We've recently begun letting my 3 year old go to children's church, a weekly AWANA bible study, and MOPS babysitting--the security is good at our church, but nothing's perfect! I'll definitely check out this video; thanks!
We have watched this video and it was fantastic. We still discuss these issues because it's important to keep them fresh in their minds. We have had one abduction (child was found, but violated) and one near abduction in our area in the last three weeks. It's an important topic to address.
We rented that dvd months ago and we all were mesmerized. We keep coming back to it over and over. I can't think of anything else I'd recommend. Everyone at our Mothers of Preschoolers meetings loves it too.
As for the surgery poll--I'm a never not because I've learned to embrace the stretch marks...but i am in the process. Plus, even if I had the money, I could not justify spending it for that!
I've never heard of this DVD. I'm going to look into it for sure!
Good to know there is a video available that deals with this subject. Thanks for sharing!
Duckabush Blog
We have this video too and my kids really like it.
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