January 6, 2012 [9]
www.kirklandreporter.com
...today’s parent How to talk to children about strangers what’s happening). If a child is grabbed, teach them to yell “Help, help, you’re not my parent!” (bystanders will assume the child is just having a tantrum otherwise). The more commotion the better. Very young children are not capable of distinguishing who is safe and who is not. You can act out scenarios and talk about strangers, but very young children do not have enough experience to reliably identify a dangerous
Karen Pettersen is owner of Morning Star School, Inc. Call 425-486-9333; visit morningstarschool.com.
P re-sch ool • Daycare
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Kirkland Boys & Girls Club is currently accepting preschool registration for 2012 school year. Register on-line at www.onepositiveplace.org Ages 3-5 - (must be potty trained) Tuesday & Thursday - $220/month Monday, Wednesday & Friday - $325/month Time: 9:30-12:00 Register Now Open House Thursday, April 26th 7-8pm at Kirkland Boys & Girls Club
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Specializing in Early Childhood Education
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425-827-0132
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10805 124th Ave NE, Kirkland 98033
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Creative Piano Classes For ages 4-8
!Rhythm!"!Ear training"!Creativity !Free Readiness visit
Ages 2-7, M-F up to 4 hours/day
Nancy Hartnell 425 827-4039 hartnellhouse@hotmail.com
565224
560491
Located in Kenmore & Woodinville
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Karen Pettersen
your child is that they must never go with anyone, stranger or not, without mom and dad knowing who they are with. This takes out defining “stranger” as an issue while creating a concrete rule that young children can understand. Tell your child that if someone is asking them to go with them, they must always tell their parents or caretaker first. If a person tries to get them to go without telling, that’s when they need to get away from that person (it’s okay to bite, scream and kick if someone grabs you that you don’t know and to tell their parent
PARENTING
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he word stranger is hard to define to very young children, so begin with non-threatening dialogue about who is a stranger and who is not. “The lady in the store was nice, but we didn’t know her so she was a stranger.” “Those people are good friends of mom and dad’s from out of town, and so they are strangers to you, but mom and dad know them so they’re okay.” We don’t want to destroy a child’s trust in the world as a relatively safe place by scaring them at too early an age. The best thing to teach
situation. Keeping your eye on them and staying close are the best safety rules. As children get older, “stranger” becomes an understood concept. The child becomes more emotionally resilient and is able to discern situations better. Then you can gradually begin to give the more scary news about strangers and why children need to be careful.
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$100 To Join For All Types Of Memberships In January!*
425-821-0882 Columbia Athletic Clubs – Juanita Bay 11450 98th Avenue NE • Kirkland, WA 98033
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