Stranger danger

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"Don't Talk to Strangers" redirects here. For the Rick Springfield song, see Success Hasn't Spoiled Me Yet.

Stranger danger describes the perceived danger to children presented by "strangers". The phrase is intended to sum up the various concerns associated with the malevolent threat presented by adults. The phrase has widespread usage and as such, most children will hear it at least once in their lives. Many books, films and public service films have been devoted to helping children remember this advice.

[edit] Common examples

Most warnings to children on this subject are in the form of one liners. Some examples:

  • "Don't talk to strangers" (By far the most commonly heard one)
  • "Don't accept money/candy/gifts from strangers"
  • "Don't ride with strangers"
  • "Don't hitchhike"
  • "Don't let strangers touch your food or drink"
  • "Don't help strangers"
  • "If someone acts too friendly in a theater, complain to an usher or the manager"

One example given in the La-Z-Boy child safety video was that strangers will tell a child a family member was hurt and had sent the stranger to take the child to the hurt family member. Or a stranger will bribe a child to come away from their gaurdian to take some photos for a recent filming process.

Although there are other dangers such as kidnap for ransom, the main threat stranger danger campaigns concern is child sexual abuse. In recent years, the emphasis of such campaigns has shifted somewhat, in order to reflect the risk of abuse by persons known to the child.[1][2]

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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