Don’t Talk to Strangers Isn’t the Best Advice
For years, parents have been telling their children not to talk to strangers. And today NYC was shaken with the death of the Leibby Kletzky, the Borough Park boy who was abducted, suffocated and dismembered.
We went to look for Leibby on Monday night because I really thought I knew where he would be. I thought he had taken a wrong turn and went left instead of going right. I did the same thing when I was a kid. The city streets are busy and when a child is alone, things look quite different. When Leibby turned the wrong way, he was lost and needed to talk with some adults to help him get back home. ”
So kids do need to talk to strangers sometimes. But we need to teach kids which strangers to choose.
1) If Leibby had spoken to a woman – she probably would have taken him home. What’s wrong with telling children to look for a mother with children?
2) Teach children that they don’t need to obey all adults. Leibby Kletzky came from a community where children are taught to obey adults so he probably obeyed Levi Aron easily because he wanted to get home.
3) Children need to know their parent’s phone number. Yes, everyone is using cell phones with phone numbers in memory, no one has emergency contacts memorized any more. Children and adults need to know numbers in case of an emergency. A child who is lost can be told to ask a woman to call their Mom.
4) If you can, give your child a cell phone so they can call you for help.
5) Pay phones are a thing of the past, but if possible teaching your older child to make a collect call could be helpful. This way they can reverse the charges and contact you.
I grew up in the aftermath of Ethan Patz. My mother was frantic. Try to relax and teach your children to be smart not scared.
Hugs,
marlene
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