Who Is STRANGER DANGER?

By Ron Dodd

Children are taught many thing's before they enter kindergarten or first grade—numbers, letters, how to tie their shoe, but preparing them for an unsafe world is a topic that often goes unnoticed.

The Junior Women's Club and the Park District of Arlington Heights have tried the past two summers to acquaint pre-schoolers with Stranger Danger, Officer Friendly, proper street crossing and a host of common day occurrences that could present trouble to these youngsters and grief to their parents.

The two organizations involved other community-oriented groups, the Arlington Heights Jaycees and the Rotary Club, to assist in the development and completion of a project called SAFETY TOWN.

The town was to be a replica, in miniature, of a small village. A high school wood working class builds take-apart structures, a fire and police station, train depot, church and a house. The average size is 4' x 4' and between 3 1/2' and 4 feet high. High School District No. 214 donated the use of a 100' x 100' section of parking lot for the construction sight and a classroom. The structural painting and street layout was done beautifully and effectively in the limited space by the Junior Woman's Club and the Park District. The site is

Checking fhe traffic, looking both ways is an important lesson in the Safety Town program which is designated to teach safety both in and out of fhe home. (Credit: Paddock Publications, Arlington Heights)

The 4 year olds are waiting for fhe right or way to pull out of their parking space into the busy street. (Credit: Paddock Publications)

Illinois Parks and Recreation 4 January/February, 1974

Total outlay of Safety Town (Credit: Chicago Tribune)

used in the morning for Safety Town but must return to being a parking lot every afternoon. Thus, the importance of the take-apart structures. The exterior settings, the buildings, street and traffic signs, are all essential in providing a realistic situation but still maintain an active fun-learning experience.

Safety Town cars are licensed by local sponsor contributions. Drivers are carefully obeying the instructions of the traffic policeman. (Credit: Paddock Publications)

The children spend one hour in the classroom. The lessons include knowning the policeman, traffic signs, bicycle safety, and home, fire, and bus safety. With such aids as movies, songs, finger-plays, and story books, the classes are very much alive. Special surprises include a visit by a fireman and, of course, the youngsters check out the fire truck.

After each class, the children are taken to SAFETY TOWN by Officer Friendly. There, the youngsters pedal about the town in little cars obeying the various signs and instructions given by Officer Friendly.

The safety program is divided into four sessions, eight days for a total of 12 hours instruction per session. On the last day, a graduation is held for the children that have passed the final exam; what is your address and phone number? The children also know about STRANGER DANGER. Do you?

(Editor's note: Ron Dodd is Superintendent of Recreation for the Arlington Heights Park District.)

Illinois Parks and Recreation 5 January/February, 1974