It is important to sit your children down for a lesson on “stranger danger.” From avoiding talking to strangers and not wandering off alone in public spaces, there’s a number of pertinent issues your children need to be educated on.
Kids, however, tend to be trusting of adults, and you can’t be overly confident that your child will remember to follow your instructions at all times, as highlighted in the video below. On the other hand, perhaps this video will remind you to be more vigilant while teaching your children.
Prankster Joey Salads set up a “home invasion” social experiment, in which he visited the homes of a number of children whom he had never met before. Although the kids had no idea it was all a setup, how trusting they were of strangers at the door was shocking to say the least.
Prior to filming, Joey contacted these kids’ parents for permission, told them to set up a camera, and ensured they were nowhere near the door while performing the experiment.
In one scene, Joey approaches a home and rings the bell. A kid answers the door, as expected.
Joey tells him that he is a friend of his mother, and asks if he can wait inside. The boy just lets him in without second thought.
He tries this line with a number of other kids. It seems that “knowing mommy” or “I’m a friend of your mommy” ends up fooling most kids.
After Joey informs the parents of the outcome, they’re quick to educate their children about not opening the door if they can’t recognize the person on the other side.
It goes to show that parents should be most thorough while educating their children on stranger danger. Whatever the stranger at the door says, kids should first find their parents and inform them. After all, it’s not possible for kids to know all of their parents’ friends.
Let’s just hope there is at least a locked security door, or fly screen door, separating the stranger and the kid when that happens.
The world we live in today is, unfortunately, one where we must take these precautions.
Joey’s video shows us that innocent kids are prone to randomly opening the door to strangers if they’re convinced to. So, teaching your children to be on the alert while around strangers is a lesson not to skip.
