| Parents, do your children know about strangers? | | | | should tell the visitor that you are busy and to |
| Are you comfortable letting your children answer | | | | please come back later. Your child can take a |
| the telephone or front door if you are home or if | | | | message, but he or she should NEVER open the |
| they are home alone? Take a minute to go over | | | | door. If the visitor won't go away, and your child |
| the following safety tips with your children. They | | | | is scared, tell him/her to call 9-1-1. |
| could prevent your child from becoming a victim | | | | Safety In Answering The Telephone |
| of crime. | | | | When answering the telephone, your child should |
| It is important that you give them examples that | | | | not give out any information. If the caller asks, |
| they will understand. Use your home, | | | | "who's this?", instruct your child to ask who the |
| neighborhood, and school area as settings. Make | | | | caller is and whom he or she called. If you child is |
| sure that your children understand that their | | | | alone, he or she should never tell anyone that he |
| safety is important to you, and use the following | | | | or she is alone. Instruct your child to tell the caller |
| points to encourage discussion about this issue. | | | | the person can't come to the telephone and that |
| A stranger is someone that your child does not | | | | he or she will write down a message. If your child |
| know very well. Parents and guardians need to | | | | feels uncomfortable or gets scared by anything |
| determine who is and isn't a stranger. Explain that | | | | the caller says, tell him/her to hand up and make |
| strangers come in many shapes and sizes. They | | | | sure he or she tells you about any and all |
| can wear nice clothes, different clothes or even a | | | | telephone calls. If you have an answering machine, |
| uniform. The uniform issue is confusing to children, | | | | let it answer the telephone if your child is home |
| so take time to explain that yes, the mailman is a | | | | alone. |
| stranger even though he comes to the door | | | | Safety Outside |
| almost every day. This does not imply that | | | | Always walk with a friend, there is safety in |
| people who wear uniforms will harm children, but | | | | numbers. Strangers usually pick on kids that are |
| children need to know that if they do not know | | | | by themselves. If you think that you are in |
| the person in uniform, that person is a stranger. | | | | danger, or if you are being followed, yell and run |
| Protection comes even at home in a variety of | | | | into the nearest store, house or back to school. |
| ways. Here are a few tips to jhelp around the | | | | Tell an adult what happened. Have your Mom or |
| home with stranger danger: | | | | Dad or both of them walk your school route with |
| Safety At Home | | | | you to make sure that it is completely safe. |
| Never open the door to a stranger. If a stranger | | | | Always stick to the same, safe route going to |
| knocks on the door or rings the doorbell, tell your | | | | and from school. Don't take shortcuts and never |
| child to look out the peep hole or call out. "who's | | | | hitchhike. When at public places, parks markets, |
| there?" If it's for you, your child should tell the | | | | shopping malls, etc., always have your parents or |
| visitor to wait, and leave the door locked until you | | | | guardian accompany you when you need to use |
| are available. If you are not home, your child | | | | the restroom. |