Stranger danger
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Stranger danger describes the perceived danger to children presented by "strangers". The phrase is intended to sum up the various concerns associated with the malevolent threat presented by unknown adults. The phrase has found widespread usage and many children will hear it (or similar advice) during their childhood lives. Many books, films and public service announcements have been devoted to helping children remember this advice.
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[edit] Common examples
- "Don't let strangers touch your food or drink"
- "Don't help strangers"
- "If someone acts too friendly in a theater, complain to an usher or the manager"
One example given in the La-Z-Boy child safety video was that strangers will tell a child a family member was hurt and had sent the stranger to take the child to the hurt family member. Or a stranger will bribe a child to come away from their guardian to take some photos for a recent filming process.
Although there are other dangers such as kidnap for ransom, the main threat stranger danger campaigns concern is child sexual abuse. In recent years, the emphasis of such campaigns has shifted somewhat, in order to reflect the risk of abuse by persons known to the child.[1][2]
[edit] Criticism
The process of constantly warning children of possible danger in the form of strangers has also been criticised as exaggerating the potential threat and unnecessarily spreading mistrust, especially when considering that (for example) in the US, about 800,000 children are reported at least temporarily missing every year, yet only 115 "become victims of what is viewed as classic stranger abductions".[3] In situations where the child is in danger for other reasons, avoiding strangers (who might help) could in fact be dangerous itself, such as in the case of an 11 year old boy scout who avoided rescue searchers because he feared they might want to 'steal him'.[3]
Some exteme proponents of "stranger danger" warnings have however instead proposed to teach children not to approach anyone without parental permission (such as not to enter a car even if they recognise the person).[4]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ [1]
- ^ [2]
- ^ a b Does 'stranger danger' go too far? - MSNBC, Transcript, ET June 23, 2005
- ^ Case Management for Missing Children Homicide Investigation - McKenna, Rob; Attorney General of Washington & U.S. Department of Justice Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. May 2006
[edit] External links
- [3] - British Public Service film from 1973
- Child Lures Prevention - Program for teaching children stranger safety
- People Smarts for Parents from Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh
- National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) - Educational information for the community. Has a variety of free publications.
- The Kid's Safe Canada Network - Free information on street proofing your children. Seminars available.
