Should "safe place" be included in teaching children about strangers?

Question

I work with an Educational Outreach Theatre touring to Elementary Schools teaching kids about safety. We have a 20 minute show during which we teach about Strangers, Food, Fire, and Gun Safety. I feel everything but Stranger Safety is clearly taught.

In our script, the Stranger Safety section includes defining the term "stranger" as "someone you've never met before" and then delineates two questions that a child should ask themselves if they are ever around a stranger to determine whether or not they're safe - "Am I in a safe place?" and "Am I with a safe adult?". When I am asked by another character "What is a safe adult?" I explain that it is "someone whose job it is to keep you safe" but when I am asked "what is a safe place?" I simply say "There are lots of safe places, like your home or school".

My confusion is that we never define safe place and I honestly don't believe there is a "safe place" anyway. I feel a place can only be safe if there is a safe adult there.

Answer 1

I agree with your last statement.  No place is completely safe for a child without an adult there.  I've got some of my kids (I teach 2nd grade) that are going home to an empty apartment.  Although safe with an adult there - it is definitely not safe for that child to be home alone.  I think that you've got to have that script tie together having an adult there.  Perhaps then also put them more on guard in "unsafe" places even when adults are there.  They should be on high alert in a mall, theme park, public restroom, or other places that could be crowded and tough to stay with an adult.