Photo via safeguard-1.com
I picked up my son from preschool on Monday and the teacher asked my three year old before leaving to show me something. My curiosity was piqued. She had him stand before her and asked him a question, " Hi there, can I give you some candy?" My son immediately fell to the ground on his behind and started kicking his legs shouting "stranger danger, stranger danger, stranger danger!" I was wowed. My son's preschool teacher turned to me and said that the kids learned about safety today and keeping away strangers! She went on to explain that it's harder to take children while having a tantrum and it would stir attention so that protects them. My son's teacher also told me that they explained to the kids that adults should not have to ask kids for help because they can help themselves. For example, she also asked my son, "I need help finding my dog, could you help me?" Of course, my son was glad to get on his behind once again and yell "stranger danger, stranger danger, stranger danger!"
What a great lesson my three year old son learned at preschool! I was really impressed. I know all preschools/schools teach the kids about being safe and staying away from strangers, but this was the first time I had seen this kind of demonstration from any of my children and believe me, I've spent many years at preschool. My son is at a new preschool this year and if it didn't win me over before, it does now.
I wouldn't care if this is all my son took away from preschool this year because this is so important. He also happens to be the most outgoing and fearless child in the family, what with being the fourth child and all, so this lesson is even more significant. How has your preschooler been taught about stranger danger or have they even been taught about it? Maybe they have but your child didn't take away much from that lesson so they didn't share it with you. I suggest you ask your preschool whether they teach stranger safety to kids and how they do it. I think it is important to be incorporated into a preschool curriculum. However, they do have summer camps here in North Carolina that focus on teaching incoming Kindergarten students about safety so they are prepared for elementary school. You can see if there are summer camps available in your area that do the same.
If you're wondering, my son's preschool teacher told me she learned about this technique on the Oprah Show!
That's awesome! I've always been worried about this issue. I'll definitely mention stranger danger education to my son's preschool! Thanks!
Posted by: Jane | October 15, 2010 at 04:20 AM