How to teach how to interact when children meet strangers?

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1. Teach Age-Based Skills What you teach your kids about interacting with strangers will depend on their age. For example, preschoolers don't yet know what a stranger is and can't tell who's safe and who isn't. So you can teach kids basic safety skills, but oftentimes they're not ready for conversations and dealing with strangers.
By the age of 4, many children become aware of strangers and can begin to learn safety rules. However, they are still too young to manage on their own in public, and are not yet capable of assessing and managing impulses.
School-age children may have been reminded by their teachers and parents that some strangers can be dangerous, but they may still assume that adults who "look good" will also be safe.
Compared with younger children, children aged 5-8 are less likely to be supervised in public. They may often walk to school, play soccer, ride a bike with a group of friends, have Internet access, and sometimes stay home alone for short periods of time. This is why this age group needs to be clearly guided in skills for children when interacting with strangers.
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2. How should strangers be mentioned to children? 2.1. Establish general safety rules To start a conversation about strangers with 2-3 year olds, come up with general safety rules. When going out, for example, ask your child to stay close and within sight of an adult. In addition, children at this age should also be taught how to call genitals and be careful not to let anyone touch them.
2.2. Discussing the concept of strangers When children are 4 years old, parents can discuss the concept of strangers with their children through the question: "Do you know what a stranger is?" . If the child doesn't know, give the example that the stranger is anyone he or she doesn't know. To avoid scaring your child unnecessarily, emphasize that strangers aren't necessarily good or bad people - just someone they don't know.
2.3. Point out adults they can trust Then point out adults they can trust . In addition to parents, give examples of adults the child can turn to for help, such as a parent, a teacher, a trusted school counselor... Point out authority figures like security guards, store clerks, etc., so your child can identify strangers who can help. The identification is very simple, through uniforms, nameplates or working positions.
To make it easier for children to visualize, parents should go over what children should and shouldn't do when meeting strangers with vivid and easy-to-understand examples and illustrations.
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3. A step-by-step guide for children to meet strangers what to do? 3.1. Dealing with lost children, meeting strangers When a child is lost, parents can show children how to handle it with the following visual instructions: “If you lose your mother in the grocery store, go to the place where they will pay you. money for everything and tell them you're lost. Say your child's name and don't move from there until we come to pick you up."
School-age children should also know that, while it's okay to greet a stranger when a parent is nearby, a child is not required to talk to them, nor should a parent be unavailable. It's perfectly fine for a child to say, "I'm not allowed to talk to strangers, and I don't want to go anywhere with anyone."
If the child is sitting alone playing alone, setting up the child to meet strangers who want to approach, it is best for the child to stay away from them, run into the house (or school) and quickly find the person taking care of them (parents, grandparents, etc.) grandmothers, teachers...). If the other person is still intentionally touching the child, teach the child to scream for attention and help. (Example: "Help! This is not my dad!" )
3.2. Watch out for strangers on the Internet In the context of the Internet being as popular as it is today, it's not uncommon for children to meet strangers on the internet. Therefore, parents also need to make rules about do's and don'ts on the Internet:
Children at this age should not join social networks or forums, chat groups. If you've let your child use it, put the computers and phones they use often in a common area so you can keep an eye on what they're doing. To limit the risk of being targeted by “cyber predators,” ask your child to never provide any personal information, answer questions, or fill out online forms. 3.3. Protecting yourself when using public toilets During their activities, children cannot avoid using public toilets or bathrooms. By the age of 6, most children can use the toilet on their own. However, parents should still be wary of standing outside the door and telling their children to call if they need help. Remind your child to turn down help from any stranger by saying, “No, thanks. I'll do it myself” or “No, thanks. My mother can help me."
3.4. Protecting Yourself When Home Alone With older children forced to stay home alone, teach them that if someone knocks at the door, they shouldn't open the door, but should say, "My mom is busy and can't open the door right away. now" . If someone comes to deliver, the child can tell them to leave it at the door or come back another time.
3.5. Other tips for parents In addition, if possible, parents should also schedule time to teach young children how to remember home addresses. Start by teaching your child to remember his or her full name, then the parents' names, addresses and phone numbers... Occasionally quiz your child for the address and phone number by surprise to check the accuracy. authenticity of information.
If your child is old enough to ride a bike or walk in the neighborhood, talk to your child about boundaries and landmarks in advance, as well as safe places where they can get help if needed.
The above stories and rehearsals are intended primarily to teach skills to children, not to frighten them. So often use open-ended questions like “What if...?”, “What will you do when...?” with a positive attitude so that children have the opportunity to practice handling difficult situations without fear. If possible, re-emphasize messages at appropriate times, for example during vacations, before trips to public settings where children may be around many strangers.

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Reference source: babycenter.com