Stranger Danger

As your preschooler grows more independent, now is a good time to start teaching them how to deal with strangers. Alerting children to "stranger danger" can both help them to be safe and and reduce parents' anxiety. Ideally, you want your children to be wary of strangers but not overly fearful. Some helpful tips include:

1. Give your child more information than just the directive "Don't talk to strangers."

2. Explain simple rules for staying safe and reinforce those rules in positive ways on a regular basis.

3. Read books about strangers with your child and then talk about what you've read.

Check out these websites for more ideas on how to create guidelines for your family about strangers.

“Teaching Children to avoid Stranger Danger”

http://illinoisearlylearning.org/tips.htm

Talk to Your Child About Strangers

https://www.babycenter.com/0_how-to-talk-to-your-child-about-interacting-with-strangers_3657124.bc

Safety Apps for Parents

https://info.richmondalarm.com/news/13-safety-apps-that-parents-need-to-know-about