Stranger Danger Scenarios

Suggested Seating: Have children sit in a large circle. Role play in the middle.

Use flow chart after each scenario with first graders if you wish.

Place "stranger" name tag on the children who volunteer to be strangers.

1) A child is playing ball outside with friends and is approached by an adult who asks for help in finding a lost puppy. Mommy is helping little sister put her shoes on and doesn't notice.

Practice Yell, Run, and Tell response.

* Point out adults shouldn't ask kids for help. They should ask other adults.

2) A child is walking to a friend's house and a stranger in a car asks for directions. Aunt Alice was supposed to be watching him or her walk, but her earring fell out and she was looking for it on the driveway.

Practice Yell, Run, and Tell response.

* Again, adults shouldn't ask kids for help.

3) A child is in the store sitting on the bench waiting for Daddy to get through the long line at the check out counter. A stranger offers to buy the child a slurpee.

* Point out that this adult is offering a bribe -- a kind of present to make you do something. Practice Yell, Run, and Tell response.

* Point out that adults shouldn't make buddies with kids. Caution children to ask parents about going into the homes of neighbors who are family friends.

For homework, the children need to memorize their parents' full names, their home addresses, and phone numbers. Tell them you will test them tomorrow.

Day 4

Review the "Smart About Strangers" song and the previous stranger scenarios. Praise and reassure the children about their responses and quick thinking. Tell them that it's going to get harder now.

(Pre-school teachers will want to modify this role play to fit their situation.)

4) A stranger comes up to a child during recess or play time and says, "Your Daddy is sick, I'm here to take you to the hospital."

Practice Yell, Run, and Tell response.

* Point out that no one should ever approach you on the school grounds without a pass from the office. (Make sure children know what your school badges look like.) If a child's father were ill, his/her mother would send a person the child knew and trusted with the family code word. (Explain a family code word is a word that no one outside of the family should ever know. If someone uses it then the child will know they can be trusted). Even so, if at school, during recess or right after, the child should insist on going to the office and having the teacher, or secretary, check on the situation before going with the person. They should do this even if the stranger is dressed in a uniform and says s/he is a police officer.

Now, tell the children they've been doing great, and you are very proud of them. Now it's time for the hardest situations of all.

5) A stranger comes and grabs you.

Practice Yell, Run, and Tell response.

* Point out children should kick, bite, scream, or do anything to get away unless they see a weapon. If they do see a weapon comply with the stranger until the weapon is out of the stranger's reach. Do not cooperate if you do not see a weapon even if the person says they will hurt a loved one who may or may not be with them.

Tell the children that if they ever get lost at a store, mall or amusement park, they need to find someone that works there right away and tell them they need help finding their parents or caretakers. The children should know their parents' names and be able to describe them. They should also know their home addresses and phone numbers.

Emphasize that the children are loved and wanted very much. Emphasize that most adults care about and want to protect them, but if someone tries to hurt them, now they have some tools to protect themselves.

Closure/Review

Review Yell, Run, and Tell if something confusing or bad happens to you. Tell the children they never ever have to be embarrassed if it turns out that the person who gave them an "Uh Oh" feeling wasn't really going to hurt them. "Uh Oh" feelings or bad or confusing touches are not fair, not your fault, and not your problem. If your first trusted adult can't help you, you need to tell and keep telling until adults who care about kids help you.

Post Test

Distribute the "Smart About Strangers" coloring book. While the children are coloring you can test them individually on their home phone numbers, addresses, and parents' names. You certainly can enlist the help of aides, cross-age tutors or visiting parents for this assessment. You may chose to reward students with stickers and/or a certificate.

Celebration of new skills or follow-up activities:

1. Sing "I Belong to Me" and "Smart about Strangers."

2. Enclosed coloring book and "My Eight Rules for Safety" by NCMEC.

3. Any other self-esteem building lessons you already use.

celebrate safety index ~ education programs

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