Safety for preschoolers

[Wild Lupine]

I posted this in Family Safety, but maybe it is better here.

How do you begin teaching preschoolers about safety, particularly regarding other people and that not everyone can be trusted? And when? Is 3 too early, I mean she should be supervised 100% of the time anyway. But she is so friendly, striking up conversations with complete strangers and considering anyone she knows even slightly to be a close friend, that I worry what might happen if we were accidentally separated in a store.

All the books I've seen are about the danger of strangers, and that seems to be missing the point, especially since my daughter doesn't think anyone is a stranger.

How have you approached this with your kids? Any good books or videos to recommend?

[Red Pajama]

I read Protecting the Gift by Gavin DeBecker. There's also The gift of Fear. It's just good information, which based on your questions would help.

While I also don't want to squash my kids' friendliness, I did start to introduce the idea that not everyone is nice around three. I started to drill the kids on safety information (their full names, parents real names, address, phone number, sibling names, ages). I taught them that when we're in a busy place, that if they get separated from us to go to a woman or mother and tell her they are lost. I review that direction when ever we are in a busy place. I encourage them to get practice speaking for themselves (ordering own food, asking own questions) yet still honor their reservations if they don't wish to speak to adults they don't know well.

Hope this helps.