Do you put your kids entire name on his/her backpack? Is that still a safety hazard?

[Anonymous]

My DD has been using a backpack with her full name on it that her grandmother got. Someone mentioned that it's a safety hazard because someone (a stranger) could see the name, yell it out and get my DD's attention.... leading to something bad.

DD is going into 1st grade this year, if that makes a difference. I walk her to and from the bus stop.

Wondering if I'm being lax, or if I should really be concerned!

[Anonymous]

When will your child be left alone, walking, where a stranger could call her name and take her? Relax, it's ok.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When will your child be left alone, walking, where a stranger could call her name and take her? Relax, it's ok.

That's what I was thinking! But, I had another mom comment, so thought it was worth asking for some DCUM consensus.

[Anonymous]

I am a pre-school teacher and every school where I've ever worked has specifically forbid us from putting their names the kids any way on them so a stranger could see it. Just an FYI. Also, my daughter's big public school said only to put kids' names on the inside of backpacks.

Yes, your kids are almost always right with you but kids do get separated in crowds, big stores, etc. Why take the risk? If you do it because it's cute - just do initials.

[Anonymous]

I think as they get older it is more of a risk. It would be a real exception for you 4 YO to be walking down the street by herself. But as the year goes on - you might let you 1st grader walk a few houses to and from the bus stop. And as shegets more confidence, around the corner to a friends house...

what have you taught your child about stranger danger?

[Anonymous]

OP, I think it is a perfectly reasonable precaution not to put a child's name in a way that is visible in public (No nametags, names on backpacks, etc.)

However, I accidentally wrote my child's name on the outside of her backpack this year (she was in 2nd grade) and I still had her use the backpack. She'll use it again until it wears out. It's not something I worry all that much about.

[Anonymous]

I don't put DS's name anywhere on the outside of anything he carries.

[Anonymous]

OK, this was one of the rules I followed, until I realized its kind of ridiculous. But then, I always thought the rule was about the first name. We put my son's first name on his, and pretty much have to if we want him to come home with the right one.

The reason I think its a stupid rule is that a stranger could easily just overhear your child's name. Think of how many times your kids name is said, by you, by friends, by teachers. So it makes much more sense to teach the kid that they are only ever to go home with "safe" adults and tell them who those safe adults are. Don't just say "adults you know", because that could be anyone - the gym teacher, the crossing guard, the guy who sells candy at the store. You give them specific names. And then in special situations, you tell them, "Owen's mom is going to pick you up today - we have given her permission."

When my son was younger, I even ran through the scenarios - what if stranger says "come in my car, your mom is hurt". What if they say "I have candy". And then I'd have him scream "NO" (he loved the screaming part). I tell you, I shouldn't laugh, but it took weeks to get my son to agree to not go into a car for candy. He kept insisting that he really wanted that candy.

Maybe I would avoid the first and last name, but I'm not sure that makes much of a difference. Teach your kids to make the right decisions, regardless if someone knows their name.

As far as the "lost in the crowd". We plan for places we would meet. And we point out who he would go to go for help. And we emphasize that you never leave the place you are at. If someone is helping you, they will not ask you to leave the store, park, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Yes, your kids are almost always right with you but kids do get separated in crowds, big stores, etc. Why take the risk? If you do it because it's cute - just do initials.

I actually put it on so that it's easy to get it back to my kid if it gets lost/left on the bus. He never uses it in crowds/stores/etc. - it's just a backpack for school. I guess initials would work though.

[Anonymous]

No, no names on the outside of anything. The backpacks we have had have a specific place for a name right inside in a place easy to see and large. That is one of my hard and fast rules.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When will your child be left alone, walking, where a stranger could call her name and take her? Relax, it's ok.

Agree with this. Today's kids are so heavily supervised.

[Anonymous]

We have initials on the backpack. That way it's easily identifiable for my son and he doesn't grab the wrong backpack, but a stranger wouldn't know his name if he were walking alone with his backpack.

[Anonymous]

Everything my child takes to school (backpack, lunch box, dance bag) is monogram with 3 letters <sHa> so we know its hers but a stranger wouldn't know her name.

[Anonymous]

No, it used to be a safety risk, but it's not anymore. Pedophiles have gone back to just offering candy.

[Anonymous]

We have the initials of her hyphenated last name on the back. That way her youngers sister can inherit it.

Yeah, I'm thinkin' about the $45 I'm going to save.