If a stranger offers you candy, make sure it's Reeses Pieces

Last week, a note came home with all the elementary school kids asking parents to make sure our kids are "Stranger Aware". So I decided I needed to have "the talk" with my kids about strangers and how we practice safety with people we don't know. It went something like this:

Me: "So you guys know what to do when a stranger approaches, right?"

The Boy: "What's a stranger?"

Me: "A stranger is someone we don't know. Lots of times we see strangers at the store and if they ask us 'How are you', we can say 'fine', etc. But if a stranger ever asks you to come with them, what do you think we should say to them?"

The Girl: "Please and Thank you?"

Me: "Well actually we should say, 'No, I don't talk to strangers" and then walk away or find Mommy or Daddy.

The Boy: "But we aren't allowed to be away from you, so why can't you just tell the stranger that yourself?"

Me: "When you're older there might be times when you are allowed to walk home from school by yourself, or play outside alone... ANYWAYS, never go anywhere with a stranger, okay?

The Boy and The Girl: .... mumbling in agreement...

Me: So what would you say if a stranger offered you some candy?

The Boy: "I would say 'No!... but what kind of candy?'..."


At this rate, they won't be allowed to walk home alone until they're in college.