Talking To Strangers What is a Stranger? A stranger is anyone you don’t know. Strangers may be nice or mean. Strangers may be men or women. Strangers may be tall or short. A person doesn't have to be scary to be a stranger. Most strangers are not scary, but if you (or your parents) don't know someone, that person is a stranger! There is no way to tell if someone is good just by looking at them. Bad people can pretend to be nice to try to fool you. Don't be fooled!

(Flyer)

What Should I do if a Stranger Tries to Talk to Me?

The rules in your household should be your guide. If your parents tell you not to talk to strangers then don't talk to strangers. However, everybody needs to learn how to talk to strangers and talking to strangers is a skill that parents should help their children to learn.

Trust your instincts. If you have any reason to doubt a person, Run! Go in the opposite direction as fast as you can. Tell a safe adult about what happened such as a parent, a teacher, a police officer. Ask a safe adult how to identify helpful strangers in the community.

If a stranger grabs you, scream, kick and resist.

What if I am Home Alone?

If you are home by yourself, keep all the doors locked and don’t let anyone know you are home alone. If someone rings your doorbell, look through a peephole or window to see who it is. Don't look out a window or door if the person at your door can see you looking at them. Talk to a parent about the best way to see who is at your door. Never open the door to someone you don't know. If someone comes to your door and won't leave, call 911!

LURES

How do Bad Strangers Try to Trick Kids?

Bad strangers have lots of tricks, but kids can still stay safe if you know the tricks!

Help Trick: A stranger asks you to help them find a lost pet or maybe asks you for directions to get somewhere. This may be a trick, because grown-ups know that kids want to be helpful. But grown-ups also know kids are not supposed to talk to strangers. And there are plenty of grown-ups around who can help. So if a stranger asks you for help, turn and run in the other direction as fast as you can and tell an adult you know as soon as you can!

Emergency Trick: A stranger says that there is an emergency in your family and your mom or dad asked them to get you. The stranger may even say that your mom or dad got hurt! This is a trick that gets you upset so it's hard to think about the safest thing to do. But you don't have to think about it—just run in the other direction as fast as you can and tell an adult you know the first chance you get!

Bribe Trick: A stranger says they have some money, candy, a video game or something else to give to you. This is a trick, because people don't give presents to people they don't know for no reason. And if you get close enough to take the present from this stranger, you're close enough for this stranger to take you. Remember, these gifts are really bribes to get you to come closer. Instead, run in the opposite direction as fast as you can and tell an adult you know as soon as you can!

Animal Trick: A stranger is holding a puppy or kitten or other animal, and invites you to pet it. This is a trick, because kids like animals so much they might be tempted to forget the rules to pet the animal. If you're close enough to pet an animal, you're close enough for a stranger to take you. Don’t trust them! Even if other kids are around, run in the opposite direction as fast as possible and tell a trusted adult.

Your parents can help you remember these rules and other ways to stay safe. And if you have any questions about how to be safe around strangers, call Phone A Friend.