You hear about stranger danger…but is there an upside to meeting strangers?
You bet!
Now…don’t get me wrong. You children need to know that you DON’T get into a car with a stranger and that you DON’T text or go in a chatroom with a stranger.
But, when they meet a stranger in public, it’s okay to be courteous and even to start a conversation. Imagine that?
Maybe it’s conversation with the Costco employee you see every week, or the barista at your local coffeehouse. Those casual interactions can act as practice…teaching your son or daughter how to relate with people. And it helps them realize they are part of a larger world with other people, not just isolated in a virtual world that revolves around only them.
I read this article in the Wall Street Journal about the surprising boost you get from strangers. Here’s more about it…
What's wrong with stranger danger?
Don't get in a car with someone you don't know. Don't chat or text someone you don't know. But DO talk to someone you don't know…like the barista at the coffeeshop, your server at a restaurant, a person standing in line next to you, etc. There's a surprising upside to being courteous and friendly to strangers…and you can teach it to your kids to so they will be less self absorbed.
Posted by Arlene Pellicane, Speaker & Author on Tuesday, May 21, 2019
