Comments on: Stranger Danger

By: Robin

Robin — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 16:06:36 +0000

I’d like to recommend the book Protecting the Gift by Gavin DeBecker. It’s got some really good concrete helpful information, in my opinion. One thing I learned was that “the crazies” get their hands on uniforms ~ police or firefighter ~ to lull kids into trusting them. I’ve told my daughter repeatedly that if she ever gets lost or separated from me at a fair or outdoor event she could look for a police officer, but she could also just look for another mom with kids. It makes sense to me that a mom with kids of her own would be the least likely person to do my child harm and would work to reunite us.

By: Ellen Schrier

Ellen Schrier — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 18:41:01 +0000

Absolutely true, Nancy and I couldn’t agree more. Thanks for your insight and information. This post though, is really looking at childhood abductions, rather than child sexual abuse or molestation, and those are very rare. Sexual abuse, as you pointed out, is, unfortunately, not rare at all. The statistics you mentioned are considered to be on the low side by most experts. Parents need to start these conversations early. We will be addressing molestation in another post. Thanks again and keep those comments coming! We love to hear from our readers.

By: Nancy

Nancy — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 18:23:46 +0000

But the chances of being victimized by someone who is NOT a stranger – who is a relative or a friend of the family – is not at all remote. Some estimates place the numbers around 1 in 10 boys and 1 in 4 girls. As a former teacher I think a lesson in stranger danger is only half the story. Children absolutely must learn about private places on their bodies and the difference between good touching and bad touching. Above all, they must learn NEVER EVER to keep a secret from Mom and Dad, even if the person hurting them tells them to. And they must learn that it’s OK to tell some secrets.