K & T

Avid YouTuber Joey Salads brings an interesting social experiment to the fore with his online video. In it he reveals just how easy it can be to win a child's trust and interest - all you need is an affable personality and an extremely cute dog to go with it! Joey exposes how, inspite of all the talks, warnings and threats, children can be easily abducted resulting in the staggering statistics that haunt us; in the U.S. alone over 700 kids are abducted every single day!
The mums in the video have probably invested a lot of time and effort in preparing their kids for stranger danger, which is why they all have expressions of utter disbelief when their kid calmly walks off with the 'stranger' at play. But how would you ever know how your kid is going to react? Would your child walk off with this stranger?
Dealing with strangers is an important chapter in your child's safety and development. Teaching your kids how to respond and react when a stranger lurks or approaches them is vital and must be incorporated into the everyday talks parents have with their kids. But clearly more is needed; simply telling them to not talk to strangers is not enough- as Joey clearly illustrates. What and how your kids interact with and trust when meeting a completely new person is all part of the picture, as is the consequences of choosing to ignore all your advice.
There may not be a fool proof, perfect strategy here; we need to take our kids and their environment, personalities, curiosities and risks into account. But to help you along the way, here are 5 simple tips to facilitate the process of prepping your kid for stranger danger.
1. Give them an Action Plan
It isn't enough to tell your kid to not talk to strangers; you need to give them a clear and precise action plan. For instance tell them to speak to someone only when they have been personally introduced by you to them; just because they saw mommy speak to someone is not a good enough reason for them to do so too. Further, you need to clearly state what they should do once a stranger does approach- head to the nearest shop or police station, make noise, call out for you- be precise and practice with them.
2. Not All Strangers are Bad
You don't want your kids living in fear of strangers and life in general. Show them that their greatest weapon is caution and discernment, not fear. Not all strangers are out to harm or kidnap your kid, and it is important your kid learns that. Not only will this make life a lot simpler and anxiety free for them, it will actually hone their instincts when it comes to meeting new people.
3. Listen to Your Instincts
It is important to realize that a vast proportion of all abductions are carried out by people kids know rather than by complete strangers. Therefore teach your kids to listen to their instincts even if they know the person reasonably well. Tell them that if they feel even slightly uncomfortable, it is okay to react and step away- no matter how close or well known the person is.
4. Strangers can be Online Too
Predators don't just lurk in parks and back alleys; this is the twenty first century- the internet is just as much home to them. Teach your kids about safe conduct and practice online, showing them how to secure their privacy, keep personal details to a minimum and not engage with random people online.
5. Do Not Feed their Curiosity
Don't become the very cause for your kids walking off with a stranger by drawing rigid and seemingly unreasonable boundaries; you don't want encounters with strangers to become the forbidden fruit your kid is actually tempted by. A lot of parents emotionally blackmail their kids into not interacting with strangers, but we all know the real danger is not being away from mommy but the risks abduction really poses. You may not be able to tell you kid all of it at their tender age, but it is vital you hint at the real consequences so they understand why it is so important to stay away from strangers- to you and to them.

Does your child make the most creatively absurd faces on seeing even the slightest trace of veggies on his/ her plate? Don't be alarmed, a kid warming up to veggies and greens is a rarer phenomenon than most parents would like. Yet this does not undermine how vital it is for them to consume these in healthy portions, and integrate them into their diet.
Desperate thus to win their kids over, moms across the globe come up with ingenious recipes and presentations to win their kids over. I know one mum who blends all her veggies into a pulp and silently mixes them into an array of recipes and fillings, while another swears by hidden veggie brownies. We must appreciate just how much effort these mums put into facilitating healthier eating for their kids, but is tricking your kid really the best way to do it?
In parenting, as with everything else in life, honesty usually is the best policy. No, being honest with your kid may not translate in him/her eating her veggies willingly, but it will deliver better results in the long term. Tricking your kids into eating healthy, although an ideal solution on the face of it, can backfire in the strangest ways in the long run; here are 4 ways how.
1. Blurs the Definitions of Healthy
Just because your pizza has a topping of broccoli or spinach on it does not always mean it is the healthiest option on the menu. Sneaking in veggies to make meals healthier for your kids blurs the definition of healthy, and misinterprets the nutritional value and benefits of a meal / snack. Kids need to understand what they are eating and what nutrients are contained in their food; relating to the ingredients of their meal- all the ingredients- is a vital part of this learning, but is made a lot more confusing when you sneak veggies in.
2. Not everyone is Hiding Veggies in their Food
You may go to painstakingly lengths to make everything from smoothies to snacks to dessert healthier and greener. But this is not going to make your kids warm up to their veggies, which means that they may never adopt your recipes. Further, not every environment they step into is going to have equally considerate chefs. This may result in them gorging on meals that are utterly nutritious at home, but an absolute health hazard outside it.
3. Kids Need to Choose Health
Being healthy is a choice above all else; you may be able to force healthy food down your kid's throat for now, but in the long term he/she needs to choose it for him/herself. Sneaking veggies is not conducive to teaching your kids to choose healthy meals or sides, even if they aren't the yummiest options available. Sneaking in veggies takes away this responsibility from every day eating, resulting in poorer eating habits and choices.
4. Teach Children about the Wisdom of Moderation
Whether it is a banana you are eating or a cheese burger, the key to health is moderation. Nothing in excess if good for you, but sneaking veggies often gives the completely opposite impression. When veggies remain hidden, there is no need to balance the yummy with the healthy and kids may be encouraged to gorge on hidden veggie brownies or fruit and veg smoothies to get their daily requirements - all in all a ticking time bomb in the making.