In a recent social experiment conducted in Sharjah, it was found that over 97 per cent of children were willing to enter a stranger’s van in exchange for a free ice cream, which was described as “astounding” by the spokesperson for the organization that carried out the study. Hanadi Al Yafei, the Director of Sharjah’s Child Safety Department (CSD), emphasized the importance of teaching children to be vigilant despite living in a safe society like the UAE. The experiment revealed that children are often susceptible to manipulation by strangers due to their inherent trust in adults and their difficulty in distinguishing between safe and unsafe interactions.
The experiment involved offering free ice cream to children in a Sharjah park in exchange for entering a stranger’s van, with only one out of 37 participants hesitating to accept the offer. The results served as an “eye-opener” for parents and guardians, highlighting the need to educate children on navigating situations involving strangers. Samina Khanyari, the General Manager of Jumeirah International Nurseries, stressed the importance of teaching children about “stranger danger” and equipping them with the skills to identify and avoid potentially dangerous situations, especially in public settings where they may feel secure.
Al Yafei emphasized the vulnerability of children and the necessity for parents and educators to take proactive measures in protecting them. She called for prioritizing the teaching of safety knowledge and good habits from a young age, particularly when children are traveling outside the UAE. Zoltan Rendes, a single father who divides his time between Budapest and Dubai, shared his approach to teaching his 7-year-old son about safety, emphasizing the importance of personal responsibility in ensuring one’s own safety.
To address the concept of stranger danger, Samina recommended using age-appropriate techniques such as engaging activities, role-playing scenarios, storytelling sessions, and visual aids to reinforce safety rules. Interactive activities like role-playing can help children practice saying “no” and seeking help from a trusted adult, while storytelling and visual aids can enhance their understanding of safety guidelines. Parents and educators were advised to engage in regular discussions and reminders about not accepting gifts or rides from unfamiliar individuals to instill a sense of caution in children when interacting with strangers.
