Stranger Safety Coloring Sheet

Using a stranger safety coloring sheet is a good way to reinforce a lesson about safety issues. It's not enough to tell children not to talk to strangers, because there may be situations where a child may need to get help from a stranger to get out of a dangerous situation.

Teach your children how to stay safe.

An example of when a child may need to trust a stranger is if they are lost and approach a uniformed police officer for help. Part of teaching children about stranger issues is explaining who they can trust, and why.

It's important to have conversations about safety issues with children. Be prepared to have more than one conversation with your children; as the children get older they will need to learn different safety rules. Here are some suggestions to help you get started:

Young children may not know about strangers. They may get the idea that a stranger is someone who has an unusual appearance. Tell them that a stranger is someone they don't know.

The people your child needs to be concerned about look like normal people; teach your child that they can't assume that because someone who approaches them is polite that they are someone they can trust.

Set up some clear rules for your child to follow when it comes to dealing with situations where they may be approached by an adult (or even an older child). Let them know that the decision about whether they should go with another person lies with you, and with you alone. The rules are non-negotiable.

When you are talking to your child about stranger issues, present them with a few examples of situations they might come up against. Ask your child, "What would you do?" Then wait for a response.

After you hear your child's response, give him or her feedback on why they had made a good choice or other ways they could deal with the situation you described.

Your child needs to know how to deal with encounters with strangers. By talking about these issues and practicing what to do when these situations arise, children develop an air of confidence. This may make it less likely that a stranger will approach them.

Treat discussions about strangers the same way that you talk about being prepared for a natural disaster or what to do if a fire breaks out in your home. Over time, this becomes part of the child's base of knowledge and they will be able to think about what to do in the situation instead of panicking.

Here are some examples of stranger safety coloring sheets you can find online:

The Eli Sprightly Stranger Safety activity sheet includes a number of activities to reinforce the safety message to youngsters. It covers the following concepts:

• It's OK to say no
• Staying safe
• How a stranger may try to trick a child
• Getting away from a stranger
• Why it's important to know your address and phone number

The Jefferson County Sheriff's Department web site has a coloring sheet for children featuring Charlie Check Mark. Young children are reminded when they color in Charlie that they should always check with a parent before they go with anyone. It's a simple way to remind them of this simple fact.

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