Stranger awareness - how and when do you tell your kids not to go with strangers?

[mousymouse]

talked to a friend last weekend who lives in another country.
her dc3y, playing outside the house, was lured away by strangers with sweets and promises to show him newborn kittens and they tried to get him in their car. neighbors saw this and interfered.
do you talk about this with your dc and when and how old were they?
I am still a bit shocked tbh

I told DS not to go anywhere with anyone without coming to find mummy or daddy first. At that age I wouldn't have made it about "stranger danger", more about "parents have to know where you are or they'll worry". As he got a bit older I'd have probably added "... even if they offer you something nice, or say we said it was ok"

But tbh he was never outside on his own at 3, even in the garden, so it was more about "not wandering off in shops" till he got to school age, and then it was about who could collect him from school and what to do if we were late.

we have just started talking to dd (3.9) about 'stranger danger' in the last few months - as she is starting to get more independance, and we wanted it ingrained before she starts school - by independance I mean being able to run around a bit more at the park, without us following every move... not staying out til 10pm!

We have told her that if it is someone we don't know or aren't speaking to, she mustn't talk to them or go with them. She understands that not everyone is nice. We have told her that teachers and police are ok to talk to if she needs to... she's been pretty good in that if someone by our garages says hello she always asks us if its ok to talk to them now :)

I have spoken to my ds (2.5) in a very basic way. Telling him he mustn't go off anywhere without telling mummy first-obv.he doesn't play out on his own,but I think I have a disproportionate fear of him being taken. I have told him not to go out the front on his own as he could get pinched by someone. It's kind of sunk in as he told granny not to go out on her own in case she got pinched! Don't want to scare him too much though so it is a tough one

bumpetibump

DS1 just turned 3 and I haven't broached this yet, but aware I need to. But TBH, I am always with him anyway at the moment. He does also check everything with me, like if he is offered choc from a friend or whatever. But he also is quite receptive to 'friendly' adults, so it is something that I do need to consider.

Will watch with interest as I guess I need to have a conversation with him about it.