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Role Playing Isn't Just for Fun -- It Can Help Keep Kids Safe
When children are young, they may dream about being many things...maybe a race car driver, a fireman, a princess, a police officer, and even a mommy or daddy. Using items found in their home, children may play dress-up, and role-play while pretending to act out various scenarios. This type of role-playing is fun for children, and assists their growing creativity. Parents may join in this child's play, and may begin role-playing with their children.
Role-playing should be encouraged at an early age, not only for fun, but for a child's personal safety. Parents may ask young children what they would do if they ever get lost in a store; or if someone they didn't know came up to them and asked them a question. Another question parents often ask their young children, is, "do you know what would happen if you ran out into the middle of the street?" There's no limit to the number of role-playing scenarios that children can experience.
As children get older, role-playing should continue, but it should include more challenging yet age-appropriate scenarios. We've included 10 potentially dangerous situations below, and what we believe are safe ways for a child to respond. After you review them, try role-playing them with your children. Ask them what they would do in each situation, and then tell them what you would like them to do in each situation. Give your children the knowledge they need in order to survive each scenario. If children are armed with all the knowledge we can give them about solving difficult situations, they'll be more apt to know what to do if they ever do encounter a dangerous situation. Talk with your children...often. Help them learn...help them survive.
Situations at School
Scenario #1: What if...you are waiting for your ride home from school, and an adult you don't know walks up to you and says that your mom and dad has sent them to pick you up. They tell you all kinds of things to try and get you to go with them (ie: your mom and dad were in a car accident; your mom or dad had car trouble and sent me to pick you up; I'm an old friend of your dad's...). What should you do?
Safe responses: You can yell (from a safe distance), "What's the code word?!" If they don't know it, do not go with them! Run to a trusted adult (teacher, parent, or school employee). If you have not yet set up a code word for your child, you should think about doing so. Choose a simple word that you both can remember, but nothing too obvious. Make sure that family members are the only ones who know the code. Be sure your child knows to keep a safe distance while asking the code word.
Scenario #2: What if...you are in school and you and your classmates have already begun walking back to class, when you realize that you've forgotten something in the lunchroom. What should you do?
Safe responses: Children should never roam school grounds without notifying their teacher or other school employee. If the teacher gives the student permission to go anywhere without the class as a whole, they should always remember to take a buddy with them. Never go anywhere alone.
Situations at Home
Scenario #3: What if...you are the only one at home and your mom is in the shower. The doorbell rings, but your mother does not hear it. You go to the door, but cannot see who is outside. What should you do?
Safe responses: Parents should discuss different options with their children. When the doorbell rings, children can: 1. Go tell their mother that someone is at the door; 2. Children should only ask who is at the door if the mother says it's ok; 3. If the child cannot tell the mother that someone is at the door (maybe the mother cannot hear the child), then the child should not even ask who is at the door. 4. If a child feels the need to ask who is at the door, even if they know who the person is, they should not open the door until the mother is out of the shower and aware of the situation.
Situations in a Store
Scenario #4: What if...you are in a pet store looking at puppies, while waiting for your mom who is a few aisles over. An adult you don't know comes up to you and says that he has kittens or puppies just outside the store, and he wants to give you one for free! What should you do?
Safe responses: You should immediately yell, "NO! You are not my mom (or dad)!" Then run to a trusted adult -- either your own mom or dad, or a store employee. Parents should make it a habit of pointing out store employees and their uniforms to their children, in each store they visit. Teach children to never go anywhere with anyone without telling you first...even if they know the person.
Scenario #5: What if...you are walking in a store while your mom is shopping elsewhere, and someone grabs you by the hand and tells you to go with them? He begins to lead you toward the store exit, and tells you to be quiet or he will hurt you. You are scared, and no one around you seems to know that you are in trouble. What should you do?
Safe responses: The main point that children should learn at any age, is that they should never go anywhere with anyone, without a parent's permission...even if they know who the person is. In addition, children may be afraid to defy an adult's requests, so in a case like this one, you should let your child know that it is OK for them to refuse their request. Teach them to yell, "Help! I'm being kidnapped! This is not my mommy (or daddy)!" as loud as they can, over and over until someone hears them. Tell them to knock everything down in their path (store items), in order to get someone's attention...and don't forget to keep yelling. Older children can try this move: when someone has a hold of their hand -- have them practice rotating their arm in a huge circle to release the kidnapper's grasp; or lay down flat on the ground as stiff as they can. It's much harder to drag or pick a child up this way. Parents should practice these moves with their children.
Situations Outside
Scenario #6: What if...you are at the park sitting on a bench with your friends, while your mom is busy talking with other parents. An adult you don't know walks up to you and your friends and asks if they can take your photograph. They tell you that you could be a famous actor, for example (insert your child's favorite sport or hobby; ie: soccer, basketball, gymnastics, modeling, etc.). What should you do?
Safe responses: Immediately yell, "No!" and run to your mom or a trusted adult. Do not let anyone take your photograph without a parent's permission. Adults who stalk children may use their photograph to try and get closer to their victim. Remind your child that it's ok to say no to adults.
Scenario #7: What if... you are walking on your street, and someone you don't know pulls up alongside of you in a car, rolls down the window, and asks you for directions. What should you do?
Safe responses: Do not reply, and immediately run in the opposite direction to a trusted adult or safe place (designated safe house -- one that you have pointed out and previously approved for your children to run to). Teach children that adults should not ask children for directions, or for any other information. Remind them that it's ok to say no to adults, and that they should not worry about hurting someone's feelings in a situation such as this.
Scenario #8: What if...you are playing with friends at a playground, and someone tells you to go with them quietly -- they have a gun in their pocket! What should you do?
Safe responses: If anyone threatens you with a gun, do not be fooled into keeping quiet! Do everything in your power to get away -- kick and scream, but don't let them take you anywhere. Don't believe lies such as, "I will hurt you or your family if you don't come with me." Get away however you can.
Scenario #9: What if...you're riding your bicycle around your neighborhood alone, and you pass by someone who is walking. They stop your bike and try to grab you off of it. What should you do?
Safe responses: First, teach your child to always go anywhere with a buddy. Remind children that they should always try and get away -- if they're old enough, they can push the bicycle into the abductor and run in the other direction, or if they're not able, they should use all the parts of their body to kick and yell, "Help, I'm being kidnapped! This is not my mommy (or daddy)!"
Situations Anywhere
Scenario #10: What if...an adult you don't know wants to give you money to go with him? He tells you that he already has your mom's (or dad's) permission. What should you do?
Safe responses: Teach children to never accept money, or any gift from anyone without permission...especially if they don't know them. Run to a trusted adult and yell, "He's not my mom!" or He's not my dad!" Giving gifts to a child is one way abductors can get closer to them. Don't let your child be fooled with these tricks.
Parents may shy away from teaching children "what if" situations...let's face it...it's scary to think of what could possibly happen to children. So instead of getting scared -- get mad! Empower your children to face the world! Although role-playing for safety is very serious, there's no need to scare children -- they shouldn't be afraid to practice the above scenarios. Safety tips should be discussed in a matter-of-fact way. Remind children that you will do everything in your power to keep them safe. If parents make practicing safety a part of their children's everyday lives, it will become instinctive. But don't wait for a difficult situation to happen...help your child be prepared.
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