"Stranger Danger"

I had another post ready for today, but I decided to put it on the back burner and post this instead.  This is not just for homeschoolers, but for anyone with children or who takes care of children.  But, since homeschoolers do tend to be, well… home, more often than most kids, it is especially pertinent for us.

Yesterday afternoon, my 11 year old daughter and 7 year old son were outside playing in the sprinkler.  My daughter came in and told me that a man had stopped in front of our house, in his car, and asked them about his missing cat.  She said that she told him she had not seen the cat, and he asked for her to keep an eye out for it.  As she told me this seemingly innocent story, my mind began to race with all the possible scenarios that could have easily taken place in my own front yard.  I know that he was most likely genuinely looking for a lost pet, but, what if he wasn’t?  What if he was looking for a little girl or little boy to take home instead?

Now see, I don’t even like to think of that as a possibility because I always want to assume the best about people.  I always tell my kids to give people “the benefit of the doubt”.  And I’m not one to play the “What if…?” game.  I used to be really good at that game and could easily work myself up into a panic just thinking of all the horrible “what if’s” that could happen to my family.  But sometimes, it is in everyone’s best interest to assume the worst.  (I feel horrible even typing that!)

I’m not suggesting that we fill our children’s minds with every possible bad thing that could ever happen to them.  I know my children would never go to sleep at night if I did that.  (I probably wouldn’t, either!)  I am suggesting, however, that we educate them in how to handle some of the possible dangers that exist in their world.  It occured to me last night that I had never really taught my kids what to do if someone tried to pick them up.  So this morning, I showed them this video.  (I saw this on Dr. Phil last year, but had never showed it to my kids.)

Afterwards, we practiced it several times, until my arms hurt too much to do it anymore.  I pray that they will never have to use this technique!  But if the situation ever arises, they will at least know what to do.

Be Safe,