My boys and I were discussing stranger danger, a reality we really wish did not exist in our world, yet it does, so my husband and I felt it best for them to be aware.
Here is an example of our "Stranger Danger Talk"
A stranger is a person whom you have never met. You may have seen the person before but don't know anything about him or her. Strangers don't look like monsters, aliens, or the bad guys you see on cartoons. They look like ordinary people.
What's the Big Deal?
Most strangers are nice, but some are not. You can't tell if a stranger is nice or not by looking at him or her. But you can tell if a situation is good or bad.
What you should do:
Be aware of dangerous situations. If a stranger asks you for help (say to find a lost puppy) or to keep a "special secret," it could be a dangerous situation. Say no and tell a trusted adult.
Trust your instincts. If you feel scared or uncomfortable, get away from the situation. Make an excuse or just run away, and go to a safe place.
Know what to do. If you're in a dangerous situation, say no, run away, yell as loud as you can, and tell an adult.
Stay together and ALWAYS stay where you are supposed to at school, home, or when playing at a friends house, so an adult knows where you are at all times.
In our discussion we scared my seven year old, Sam, to near tears. He became scared someone was out to take him away.
Yikes! I'd gone to far in trying to give him the knowledge to make wise choices. His older brother took over.
Josh: You know God has a plan for you right?
Sam: Yes
Josh: What ever happens God's going to be right there with you and He's going to turn it to good. It says so in the Bible.
Josh: If you are scared you can sleep in my bed tonight.
What a blessing to hear my child comforting his younger brother by applying God's promises in concrete situations. What started as a safety discussion turned into a trust in God lesson taught by Josh!
Dear God,
May my children be so clothed in Your armour that whatever the situation they will be protected and safe from evil. I am thankful that You are always with them and have a plan and purpose for their lives. May they continue to turn to You in trust and faithfulness in times of trouble.
In Jesus Name,
Amen.
Jeremiah 29:11
"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plan to give you hope and a future."
Romans 8:28
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."
Eph 6: 13-17
"Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God"
9 comments:
That is so sweet it makes me want to cry. Josh is so sweet! You are certainly training your children in the way they should go.
On another note, if you want a fun & funny video but GOOD about stranger danger visit this website:
http://www.thesafeside.com/
John Walsh produced it, it is for kids and has the "Safe Side Chick" who teaches kids. We borrowed the video from a friend, and I think it is good enough to buy. Or you could see if the library has it.
Here are a couple of 30 second clips from the video to give you a taste of the humor....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFim9h4kQ6w
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZWKrAjNwdA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HoLkEMsPv-Y
That is SO sweet!
What great brothers!
I have been trying to figure out a way to broach this subject with my kids; we talk about it, but my plan for now is to not let them out of my sight :) he-he! Realistically, this is a hard topic to cover, I think you did a great job with it! So sweet to hear your oldest comforting his brother like that, what a smart and compassionate child :D P.S. Thanks Kelly for the links, this topic needs some humor!
Thanks so much for stopping by my blog and for leaving me a comment. I hope your Banana Bread turned out good. That's one of my favorites! Yummy!
Hope you'll come back and visit and I'm going to keep my eye on you, as well!
Have a great weekend!
What's so great is that Josh put all the pieces together and internalized a concept! And it's a concept that will keep him at peace for his whole life. He has, unknowingly, partnered with you and Mr. P. to bring the message of the Bible to where it is supposed to be--lived out, not just read. Fantastic! And what wonderful boys and big brothers these will be when sister is ready for this talk.
Hope you are well and enjoying the great weather!
We talk about this constantly with our grandsons and they have some great answers...
This is my first visit to your blog and love it. Hope you will stop by and visit me.....
Wow,this post warmed my heart. I love that Josh was able to help Sam understand such an important (and scary) topic...all the while trusting in God! Does it get any better?
Awesome kids you've got! :)
Wow,this post warmed my heart. I love that Josh was able to help Sam understand such an important (and scary) topic...all the while trusting in God! Does it get any better?
Awesome kids you've got! :)
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