In the 80s, I can remember my parents telling me “don’t get kidnapped!” when we went out to play.
That was 80’s parenting; tell your kids not to do something without giving us the how, for example “Smarten up!” How many remember that one?
I think, that 80’s parenting style created a lot of independent thinking adults who turned out to be great problem solvers. Unfortunately there were also a lot of accidents that happened, and as a result I think helicopter parenting was born, and parents have become paranoid, myself included.
Recently I went for a run and something happened that got me thinking about this idea of kidnapping and “stranger danger”… are we TOO paranoid? Should we be worried about our kids getting kidnapped? What do we need to know and what should our kids know about talking to strangers or playing outside on their own.
Watch the video above to find out what happened. (Then keep reading for a second video where I chat about child safety with a local police Constable!)
In a nutshell, after that little girl came up to talk to me, I felt like I had to say something to her… but the more I thought about it, the more I wanted to explore the notion of paranoia in parents and this worry that something terrible is just around the corner.
We hear about so much BADNESS in the media, but is it that we just hear it more… or is it really HAPPENING more?
I decided it was time to talk with a pro, aka Constable Nusink from the Peterborough Police Service.
Watch the video to hear his advice on how to talk to your kids about staying safe and what the “uh oh” feeling is all about.
I think the most important thing to take from this video is to help children understand that their parents or guardians need to know where they are, what they’re doing, and who they’re with because, as Constable Nusink mentions in our chat, we would be heartbroken if anything ever happened to them.
Teaching our kids these skills is SO important and I’d love to hear from you about how you’ve brought up safety in your own family. What have you talked to your kids about? Have they ever come to you with questions about safety, strangers, or what to do if they don’t feel safe?
Please comment below to share! Thanks for reading/watching!
