Citation

Dixey R. Int. J. Health Promot. Educ. 1999; 37(2): 40-46.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1999, Institute of Health Education)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to raise issues about the role of education in teaching children to keep themselves safe from the risks posed by 'strangers'. It presents qualitative data obtained from interviews with mothers living in one area in Leeds, UK, in order to explore what children are told about strangers, and whether mothers think that children will act on that information. The findings indicate that mothers do understand the complexity of the concept of 'stranger' and also that a major threat comes from non-strangers. Conveying this message to children is difficult, however, and leaves parents anxious about what to tell children at the appropriate age. Training to help parents with this task may be useful, but given the dubious efficacy of education, it is necessary also to consider how a more 'child friendly' and supportive environment could be created. This would involve policy on transport, childcare and penal issues and more long-term preventive measures, in order to prevent abuse and violence toward children occurring in the first place.