Things all kids should learn

[Wounded]

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Role-playing is an excellent way to practice applying knowledge. The following

questions provide your child with an opportunity to demonstrate his or her

understanding of when and how our Hot Tips should be used. Our suggested answers

(below each question in italic) may differ from your family’s rules and are subject to

modification, as appropriate.

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What would you do if you were alone and the doorbell rang? Do you think

you should talk to the person at the door, even if the door is locked? What

if they said they needed help? Should you open the door?

Your child should never open the door without his or her Safe Side Adult.

Teach them not to approach the door or look out the window where the

person could see them. They should not talk with the person at the door. If

the person does need help and the child doesn’t answer, that person will go

somewhere else.

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When is it safe to play alone outside the house? What rules should we have

about where it is safe to play outside? Should you have a friend with you

when you play outside?

Children should never play outside alone. It is much safer if they play with

a friend within sight of their Safe Side Adult. Children who are alone or

isolated are more vulnerable to someone who means them harm.

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If someone did something that made you feel scared, uncomfortable, or

confused, who should you tell? What if they told you to keep it a secret?

Children may feel guilty or embarrassed if someone has done something

inappropriate to them. Let your child know that there is nothing they could

tell you that would make you lose your love for them. Let your child know

that you will always listen to and believe them no matter what.

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Is it okay to play alone in our car? Is a car a good hiding place?

A car is a dangerous place for a child to play. Many children are hurt in

accidents involving parked cars and may not be able to get out of a car if it

is stolen, or if they are hiding in it.

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Is it okay to leave our yard and go somewhere without telling me?

Explain to your child that it is not okay to go somewhere without asking

you, because if something happens to them, you wouldn’t be able to help

them. It’s always better to check first and check in with their Safe Side Adult

before they go anywhere.

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Here’s the situation: you’re playing in front of our house (or apartment)

and a car pulls up near you. You recognize the driver, but that person is

not on your Safe Side Adult list. The person begins to get out of the car to

approach you. What should you do?

Even if your child recognizes the person in the car, he or she should not

speak to or allow a Kinda Know to get close if their Safe Side Adult isn’t

around. They should run into the house immediately and tell their Safe Side

Adult.

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Should you ALWAYS listen to adults? When is it appropriate NOT to listen to

what a grown-up says?

Teach your children they do not always have to listen to adults. If an adult

tells them something or does something that makes them feel scared,

confused or uncomfortable, they should tell one of their Safe Side Adults as

soon as they can. Get out of the situation as quickly as possible.

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What other things, besides yelling, could you do if someone grabbed you

and attempted to pull you into a car?

It’s very hard to fight with a person who is much larger than a child, but

children can scratch, pull hair, kick and wriggle around to draw attention

to themselves. Kids should do whatever they can to get away, even though

they are frightened. Each year thousands of children avoid abduction

because they know what to do.

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What if you’re at the store with your Safe Side Adult and a grown up that

you don’t know asks your name? Should you give them your name?

Without your permission, a child should not give out any personal

information about him or herself. We recommend children not wear shirts,

hats or other articles of clothing that contain their name.