Best Books to Teach Children Not to Talk to Strangers (Stranger Danger)

There are many good kids books about not talking to strangers. Here are a few of my favorites:

I Won't Go With Strangers by Dagmar Geisler

This is the perfect book on helping teach clear rules and arrangements to your loved ones so that they have the tools they need to feel empowered during uncertain or vulnerable times. At the end of the book, there is also a prompt to help you child create their own 'safe' list as well as helpful resources for parents.

Never Talk to Strangers by Irma Joyce

This classic book teaches children about the importance of personal safety and how to protect themselves from strangers.

The Berenstain Bears Learn About Strangers by Stan and Jan Berenstain

This beloved series teaches children about a variety of safety topics, including stranger danger and decision-making.

Say No and Go: Stranger Safety (How to Be Safe!) by Jill Urban Donahue

A great pick for children older than 5, this book teaches children some straightforward 'smart' rules around trust, safety and protecting yourself.

My Body Is Special and Belongs to Me by Sally Berenzweig

This book teaches children about their bodies and how to protect themselves from unwanted touching.

Smarter Than the Scoopers by David Elkind

This book teaches children about how to make good choices and stay safe.

These books are all age-appropriate and engaging, and they teach children important safety lessons that can help keep them safe.

Here are some additional tips for talking to your children about stranger danger:

Start the conversation early. Children can learn about stranger danger as early as age 2.
Use age-appropriate language. Tailor your conversation to your child's level of understanding.
Be positive. Don't scare your child, but do emphasize the importance of safety.
Practice what to do. Role-play different scenarios with your child so they know what to do if a stranger approaches them.
Be consistent. Talk about stranger danger often so your child remembers what to do.

By talking to your children about stranger danger and using these tips, you can help keep them safe.

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You might also find it helpful to explore these feelings in a bibliotherapy session or learn some bibliotherapy techniques to help you process these feelings by completing our online Bibliotherapy, Literature and Mental Health course or our book Bibliotherapy: The Healing Power of Reading.

A big hello and thank you for reading! Passionate about literature, psychology, and life I launched Book Therapy as an alternative form of therapy using the power of literature. I train mental health professionals, librarians, teachers as well as readers on using bibliotherapy in their own work through our online Bibliotherapy, Literature and Mental Health course. We also curate reading lists/personalised book prescriptions for clients based on their individual needs. This is our signature personalised reading service.

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