There is nothing scary for parents than the thought of someone harming or kidnapping their children. Unfortunately, such crimes still happen today to even the most vigilant families. However, to help keep everyone more safe, here are 5 tips on what you can do about stranger danger:

1. Teach your children to never go with a stranger.

One of the most important things that you can teach your children is to not go with strangers. You must teach your children that they should never leave an area with a stranger despite whatever he/she offers. For example, many strangers will try to lure children away by offering sweets or puppies. Additionally, strangers may try to lure children away by telling them that their mother or father said that it was okay.

By teaching your children how to say “no” and resist going with a stranger no matter what, you can potentially save their lives. However, you will have to help them learn that going with uniformed authorities, such as police officers, is acceptable. Yet, children still have to be careful since strangers may pose as authority figures as well.

2. Teach your children to never answer the door when they are home alone.

When you leave your children home for a short period of time or overnight, they must be taught to avoid answering the door. If children give away that they are home alone, they can potentially become targets. For added security, you may want to consider installing security doors with your entry doors.

3. Familiarize your children with emergency numbers.

In case your children should ever become afraid or get into trouble, they need to know emergency numbers that they can contact. You should always have a list of important numbers posted in plain sight for your children to see, as well as inside of first-aid kits. By providing your children with emergency numbers, they can help prevent a bad situation from becoming worse.

4. Install a security system.

To best protect your children when they are home, it is highly recommended to install a home security system such as those found on websites about home security. Monitored security systems will help keep your children safe even when you are not around. In addition to watching for intruders, home security systems also watch for carbon dioxide and fire threats.

It is also helpful to teach your children about the passwords for the home security system in case something should happen and the security company contacts them.

5. Keep your home well lit.

To help uncover possible intruders, ensuring that your property is well lit around the home is important. Even if someone enters the property that is not a threat, they will be easier to identify.

In addition to lighting the property, you may want to consider motion detector lights as part of your home security system. If someone triggers the lights, the area will instantly become illuminated. If someone is trespassing at the time, they will likely leave the area to avoid being caught.

Teaching your children about stranger danger is crucial for protecting them around the home and elsewhere. By educating your children and taking preventive measures around the home, you will help create a safer environment for them to grow.