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The Safe Side
A program addressing the issues of Stranger Danger and Internet Safety
Children are some of the most vulnerable members of our society and we live in a fast-paced world where they face challenges and potential dangers. The US Department of Justice reports that almost 800,000 children may be reported missing in a year's time, resulting in an average of about 2,000 children being reported missing each day. The Internet has especially become a place where children and youth are enticed with negative choices and negative activity.
It is important that we as adults understand that the well-being of children rests in our hands and we are all responsible for preparing them to lead safer and more successful lives. The Safe Side program develops prevention and safety education resources that can be used in homes, schools, childcare centers and anywhere children are found.
In conjunction with The Safe Side program, UT Extension has developed a program to help parents, educators and children address stranger-danger and internet safety issues.
Stranger Danger Program
So what does "stranger danger" really mean, and do children benefit from an outdated and incomplete message? Here's what we have learned about the "stranger-danger" concept:
- Children don't get it.
- Adults don't practice it.
- It doesn't go far enough in protecting children from potential danger.
When questioned, children will often describe a "stranger" as someone who is "ugly or mean." They don't perceive nice -looking or friendly people as "strangers." And if someone talks to a child or is even around a child more than once, that person loses his or her "stranger" status. The child then thinks he or she "knows" the person. Children also want to be helpful, thrive on adult approval, and respond to adult authority. So, if someone with ill intent asks them to perform a task or tells them something has happened to a loved one, chances are good the child can be tricked.
The "stranger-danger" message becomes even more confusing for children since they can't tell by looking at someone whether or not the person is "good" or "bad." Wouldn't it be great if we could point out the "bad" people to our children and be done with it? Whether it's in a grocery store or at a baseball game, adults break the rule of "don't talk to strangers" all the time. But adults have the benefit of experience, judgment, and decision-making skills; children do not. And sometimes adults are wrong. So, if we can't identify "bad" people, we certainly can't expect our children to.
The Stranger Danger programs addresses this issue of knowing the difference between real strangers and acquaintances or "kind of knows" and provides several lessons for adults to teach this information in a very fun, relaxed and non-threatening approach.
Internet Safety Program
This program provides a kid-friendly trip through the world of e-mails, downloads, pop-ups and chat rooms that looks at the serious issues that can arise if kids don't have a parent or adult to go to for questions. This light approach to the difficult topic of Internet safety talks to kids, not at them. Along with giving children an understanding of potential dangers, The Safe Side 'Internet Safety' program helps them understand what to do if dangerous situations should arise on the Internet.
Also, the program utilizes resources from the National Center For Missing and Exploited Children, specifically the NetSmartz program. This program is extremely interactive and the program offers lesson activities, handouts, PowerPoint Presentations, video clips, etc. all for free and completely downloadable.
State Contact
Matt Devereaux, PhD
Associate Professor & Extension Child Development Specialist
University of Tennessee Extension
Family & Consumer Sciences
119 Morgan Hall
Knoxville, TN 37996-4501
Telephone: (865) 974-7193
Fax: (865) 974-3234
E-mail: mdevereaux@utk.edu
For more information about the UT Extension Human Development programs, please contact your local County Extension FCS Agent.