An important topic that must be discussed in daycare centers and preschools is the danger that strangers pose. To help keep children safe, child care professionals must help young children know what to do when they are lost. In order to teach young children what to do when they are lost, they must first be taught the difference between a stranger and a safe adult.
What is a Stranger?
When teaching a child the difference between a stranger and an adult, it is important to stress that a stranger is anyone that a person doesn’t know very well. It is also important to help children realize that a stranger is not just someone they’ve never seen before in their lives or that not all strangers are scary, but may in fact be someone who is very friendly to them.
When a Child is Lost in Public: Expert Advice
Four experts explain how to teach children what to do should they become lost in a public place:
Dave Herz, M.A., President and Founder of Vive and Co-Creator of Chaos to Connection and Michael Behmer, M.A., Marriage and Family Therapist, and Co-Creator of Chaos to Connection:
If a child is lost, the general rule is to find a woman with children (as sexist as that sounds, most crimes are committed by men) or to speak to someone who works at the store. The most important rule if a child is lost is to never, ever leave the premises, whoever the child is talking to. If a woman with children says, “Let’s go to my car to get my phone so I can call the police” or a security guard says, “Let’s go outside, and I’ll help you,” the child needs to know he or she needs to stay in the store.
Pam Adamchik, nationally-certified radKIDS instructor:
If a child is lost in a public place, such as a store, movie theater, circus, fair, etc., we tell them to find someone wearing a name tag That’s how they’ll know that person works there and is there to help them. If they can’t find someone with a name tag, look for a mom with kids. Women with children will most often help another child in need because they recognize the urgency of the situation. Other choices, if no “mom” is in sight, we tell them to look for a grandmother-type, a woman alone, and finally, a man. We place men last on the list (unless they have a name tag) because they tend not to be as child-centered and nurturing in this kind of situation.
Suzy Martyn, parenting expert and author of Enjoy the Ride: Tools, Tips, and Inspiration for the Most Common Parenting Challenges [Mother's Friend Publishing, 2009]:
Teach your child to locate "safe" adults. I teach children to look for an adult (preferably a woman or mom). The Second choice is someone with a name tag on. This would be some sort of worker at amusement parks, theatres, or grocery stores who would take them to the "lost and found" center or help them find their parents.
In general, the best safe tips for teaching children what to do when they are lost is to:
- Locate safe adults; usually a woman with kids or someone with a nametag
- Do not leave the premises under any circumstances
When teaching children about the dangers strangers impose, it is important to arm children with the knowledge they need to know when they are lost in a public place. This includes understand the difference between strangers and safe adults.
Interviews with Michael Behmer, Dave Hertz, Pam Adamchik and Suzy Martyn were conducted in December, 2009.
Carla Snuggs - As a writer for Suite101.com since 2005, it is a privilege to continue on as theTopic Editor for the subject of Day Care. I received a ...
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