Sophia learned a song at school about not going with strangers, not taking food from strangers, etc. etc. and the number to call if a stranger tries to do something or you need help. They showed her pictures, I think the 'stranger' in question had a knife. This is a response to several tragedies last year in this country.
We thought it was a good teaching moment. But there are a few problems. Most 'strangers' that are really out to do evil don't really look the part. They are nice and normal looking. Sophia said in all earnestness: 'I don't think I have ever met a stranger.' She wasn't using the cliche saying, she meant she had never met someone like in those pictures. We had to give some fuller explanation.
The other thing is is that we take food from 'strangers' all the time. That is the culture. You are walking down the street, they think the white kid is cute, out comes the food, the cell phones, the whatever to try to get fun responses out of the kids. Granted, we are usually always with her and have tried to teach her not to eat stuff from people when we are not there, but really, we haven't been that strict about it, at all. No matter where you are, on the street, in your home, you always offer what you have to others that you are having a conversation with, even if it is your first ever conversation with them.
So, we teach on...
