Stranger Awareness
Keeping Our Coronado Kids Safe
Teaching your kids how to react to strangers is part of a bigger education
that includes learning to tell right from wrong and having the self-confidence to say no to a bad situation.
Age
Start the Conversation
Thing to Do
Who are your Trusted Adults?
0-5
Create a Safe List
What can you do when you get lost?
By Age 3: What’s your telephone number and address?
Teach kids Stranger Safety Skills: Do Not Take, Go, or Open
What is a stranger to you?
5-7
How do you know you can trust a stranger?
Explore family rules and guidelines for talking to strangers when adults are not
around
What do you do if a stranger asks you to go with them? Take
something? Or, open the door?
Begin role-playing
Who can you immediately go to if something was wrong?
If someone made you feel uncomfortable, who would you tell?
What concerns do you have about strangers and the recent
events here in Coronado?
12-18
Establish internet safety guidelines, visit www.commonsensemedia.org
Create a family code word
How do you know if someone is unsafe?
8-12
Teach kids to Stay Put and call out, “Help, I’m Lost”
What would you do if someone tried to abduct you or a friend?
Continue role-plays for more complicated situations
Ensure pre-assigned meeting places
Teach safety skills in case of an abduction
Update the Safe list
Continue encouraging abstract thinking through role-play
Equip kids with personal defense skills
Our Mission is to Partner with Parents and the Community, To Develop and Sustain Healthy Responsible Youth.
Student And Family Enrichment
1009 C Avenue | 619-522-6884 | www.CoronadoSAFE.org
General Tips for Parents:
 If a suspicious incident happens… call 911 or go to the police IMMEDIATELY
 Talk: Ask questions and encourage conversations that empower rather than scare
 Repeat: Practice safety skills and stranger awareness 100x for retention
 Aware: Ensure that kids always remain aware of their surroundings
 Name: Do not prominently write a child’s name on clothing or backpacks
 ID: Maintain a current photo and a written physical description on hand
 Fight Back: Tell kids to use any means possible to fight back in a dangerous situation
 Like the “City of Coronado Police Department” on Facebook to receive immediate safety updates
What Would Your Child Do…
Ask your children what they would do if they felt in danger by someone in their:
Home: Create an exit plan, in case of emergency
Neighborhood: Create a list of safe homes in your neighborhood to turn to for help
Community/public event: Discuss which strangers are most likely to be safe.
i.e. mom with stroller; police officer in uniform; store/restaurant owner/employee…
Abduction or Harm by “Familiars”… a More Likely Situation
Be AWARE, perpetrators may:








Show an unusual interest in a vulnerable child (e.g. low self-esteem, approval-seeking,
or from a single-parent home)
Prefer to socialize with children rather than adults
Offer to “baby-sit” to gets parent out of the way
Engage youth in intimate rough housing
Give gifts or encourage secrets
Bring up inappropriate topics around children
Have an unusual interest in children when out in public places
Show an over-reaction to media hype about sex offender arrests, covering their own actions
Our Mission is to
Partner
with Par-