by Lindsay Rose
Stranger Danger! Summertime is a good time to remind your children to be smart about strangers.
Begin by discussing the difference between friends and acquaintances. Someone they see regularly at school events or hangouts is not necessarily a friend. Talk about stranger safety in an open, frank, but non-threatening way. Fear can make a kid less likely to tell you about a scary situation. More about stranger safety:
Get to know your kid’s friends
Middle school children are especially vulnerable to predators, so get involved at your child’s school to know who’s who.
Make sure your kid’s social media profiles are private
… And that the location services are turned off. Advise your kid not to accept friend requests from anyone they don’t know face-to-face.
Keep your kid busy
… With extracurricular activities that he/she enjoys. Frequent teen hangouts like malls, fast food places and parking lots are also favorite hangouts of bad strangers. If your kid says he/she is going to “hang out,” get the details and check in frequently.
Educate your kid
… About the fact that social media makes it possible for a stranger to know and call them by their name. Kids should never go up to a car they don’t know.
Look into a GPS device for your kid
Many professionals recommend the Amber Alert GPS system. The software can be added to a smart phone or can be a small device that your kid keeps in a pant or coat pocket.
Comb your kid’s devices
If you have suspicions, comb your kid’s computer, cell phones, iPads or any digital devices and their bedrooms looking for clues. If you have a hunch that something is going on that could put them in danger, your hunches are probably right.