Gliterature May 2014 | Page 136

Stranger danger SAFETY by Shawna Gibson It takes a village to raise a child, so goes that old saying. However, what needs to be considered is who the village is made up of. This is what ma ers. Be aware of your surroundings, keep your distance from grown-ups - especially, who you do not know, or sort of know because you never know when you could get caught up in a 'stranger danger' situa on. What makes a stranger dangerous? Is it the way they look or their gender? No, it is the things they could say or do that can be harmful and improper. Guess what, some dangerous strangers look like nice people, and some pretend to be nice to gain your trust and let you grow more comfortable with them. As a child in school, NEVER leave with someone you barely know or do not know at all! As a ma er of fact, you should not leave with anyone your parents did not approve of, or did not tell you that it was okay to leave with. You should ask your parents, if they have and unexpected emergency and is unable to pick you up from school, who are the people who it would be okay to leave with. If an adult acts nice and offers to buy you something without your parents knowing, this should be a red flag. Do not accept gi s, treats or money without your parents' knowledge. If an adult is always having long conversa ons with you,