Teach Your Kids How to Keep Themselves Safe: Stranger Danger 101

The recent news story of the little girl who fought her way out of getting kidnapped made me ask myself, would my little girl be able to do the same? Brittney Baxter, age 7, was grabbed by a man in a Georgia Wal-Mart. He put his hand over her mouth and tried to subdue her, but she would have nothing of it. Little Brittney struggled and fought her way to safety. The alleged kidnapper is in custody, but the story could have had a much different ending.

Go over the following tips with the children in your life, not once, not twice, but frequently. Some of the tips may take some time to internalize so repeating is necessary. But with that said, use parental discretion. If you have a sensitive soul or a worry-wort on your hands, teach awareness while reassuring them that they are safe with you.

Not everyone is nice. This is a fact that even I don’t like to acknowledge, but it is true. There are people with bad thoughts and ideas running through their head. Stay cautious around people you do not know. It is also a good idea to emphasize the fact that it can be very hard to tell the difference. I hate telling my kids not to trust people, but it is a sad fact, not everyone can be trusted.

Stay close. Babies and toddlers are generally right by mom, sitting in a cart, baby carrier, or held in your arms. School age children are the ones who can easily wander off. I have been guilty of sending my son to the next aisle to grab something, or let him walk over to the toy car section to look. When this story broke, I had to reset the boundaries. If I cannot see him, it is too far.

Yelling is OKAY. If they are in trouble, it is okay to scream. More than that though, teach your child to yell what is happening. If a stranger tries to grab them, they can yell for help. Let bystanders know the person is not their mom or dad. I have been training my kids this way to avoid the random screams from the backyard. If they see a spider and want to scream, I want to know they are screaming about a spider.

Stay aware. Brittney was simply looking at toys when the man came to grab her. While I am not going to say he wouldn’t have tried if she was paying attention, it is important to tell kids to stay aware of who is around them. Go a step further and teach your children to stand and walk with confidence. Show them the difference between standing tall and proud, walking with purpose, and slouching, shuffling or meandering.

Be rude. Strangers with evil intent can be very convincing. They may tell your child that they were sent by you, or tell your child that mom or dad is hurt and they have to go with them. Lies are just one way to lure a child, some may promise toys or even the stereotypical candy. Let your child know without a doubt, they have your permission to be rude to strangers with stories.

Trust your instincts. Let your child know if they have a bad feeling about something, they should listen to what their body is telling them. Run to a parent or otherwise get yourself out of the situation immediately.
If they are grabbed like little Brittney, tell them to move their arms and kick their legs. If a hand is placed over their mouth, bite it. Do what has to be done to get away and get help.

Thankfully, Brittney Baxter was self-aware enough to break free. Help your children to learn from her strength and persistence to avoid disastrous situations.

More by Sylvie Branch:
New rules for a healthy mom

Sign language for hearing children

Exterminating your child’s fear of bugs


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