I was helping Levi hang his jacket in his school cubby shortly after he began attending daycare when a classmate ran over and threw her arms around my legs. Surprised by the hug, I looked up the mother, whose name I didn’t even know, and gave a small, awkward laugh.
“I’m sorry,” the mom said. “My daughter would hug strangers in the supermarket if I didn’t have her strapped into a shopping cart. She’s just too friendly.”
Young children are notoriously outgoing and, like the little girl in Levi’s class, often equally sociable with people they know and don’t know, which is why it’s never too early to have a conversation about strangers and safety.
Click here to learn how to talk to your kids about stranger danger.
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You definitely touched on a few parts of the tricky people movement. Basically it says to teach kids what is inappropriate behavior from any adult, even those they know. I especially like the tip to tell your child, if they ever become separated from you, to look for a mom with kids. Always easy to find in a crowded place.
Thanks for sharing that link, Kelly. The idea of tricky people being the new strangers is really freaky.