How You Can Teach Your Child Personal Safety
1. Say it early, often and very clearly. Tell your child: “Never go with anyone unless you come and ask me.” With my child, we also created a passphrase. If anyone comes to pick her up that she doesn't know, she has a very specific question. If the person doesn't answer it correctly, she may not go with them. 2. Talk about uncomfortable feelings Keeping it low-key, talk about situations you know would make your child uncomfortable. Ask him if he’s ever been in one and to describe how he felt. Thinking through those situations now can help keep him safe later. But if he seems fearful while you’re talking, back off and then discuss what he’s feeling at that moment. Then talk through the scenario another time. 3. Talk about “tricky people.” The concept of strangers can be confusing to some kids. And some unsafe people are people kids know. One way to explain who to watch out for is to discuss “tricky people.” When your child is young, say, “Most people are pretty...