It has come to our attention that, last week, a child was approached on the Blackcourt Road (2.9km from PETNS) by a teenager offering sweets and encouraging the child to go with him. The child responded appropriately and was thankfully unharmed. The incident was taken seriously and reported to Gardaí. Information about the incident was also published in Saturday’s Irish Independent. In response to this incident, teachers today are teaching the appropriate Stay Safe lessons.

It would be much appreciated if you could reinforce the stay safe rule “Never to go anywhere with a stranger or take anything from a stranger.”

For more information about Stay Safe Programme and the topic “Strangers” please see below.

The Stay Safe programme is a personal safety skills programme designed for use with primary school children from Junior Infants through to 6th class. The programme seeks to enhance children’s self-protective skills by participation in lessons on safe and unsafe situations, bullying, inappropriate touch, secrets, telling and stranger danger.

The programme aims to give children the skills necessary to enable them to recognise and resist abuse/victimisation and teaches them that they should always tell (an adult that can help) about any situation which they find unsafe, upsetting, threatening, dangerous or abusive.

As part of this programme we are currently covering the topic of strangers.

Strangers

In this section children learn . . .

• That a stranger is anyone they don’t know
• That most strangers are nice people
• Never to go anywhere with a stranger or take anything from a stranger.

Suggestions for Parents/Guardians

Discuss with your child the meaning of the word ‘stranger’. It’s important to stress that most strangers are nice people and that we sometimes rely on strangers in times of trouble but that, at the same time, there are rules children should always use with strangers.

Ask your child what he or she would do in different situations with strangers, such as if a stranger asks your child for directions or offers your child a lift. Stress that it’s not rude to refuse to talk to strangers if your child feels unsafe. Discuss with your child the general rules: say ‘No’ – get away and tell.

For more information go to the website: http://www.staysafe.ie/parents.htm