Monmouth Sheriff Stranger Danger Program for Kids [VIDEO]

With Halloween around the corner, it's a good time to chat with the kids about the dangers of strangers.

The Monmouth County Sheriff's Office is making it easier than ever with a new program.

The Dangers of Strangers program was offered in English and Spanish for kindergarteners and first-graders at Midtown Community Elementary School in Neptune last Friday.

Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden said, 'It's all about protecting our children...so that they're better prepared if they have an encounter with a stranger that they don't know and maybe wants to try to do them harm.'

Sheriff's Officer Iliana Velazquez talked to the students about the dangers of strangers in their community; how to stay safe at home, outside, and online; and tricks strangers might use to hurt them (and how they can escape those tricks.)

So what should your kids know?

A stranger is any person you don't know.
A stranger may look nice and be friendly, but that doesn't mean they are safe.
If a stranger talks to you, you should ignore them, and run to a safe place.
Know the safe places in your community, like the library, school, police station, or neighbor's house.
Know how to get there if you need to.
Tell an adult if a stranger tries to talk to you.

There's also great advice from the National Crime Prevention Council on how to stay safe while trick-or-treating, like not eating your candy until a parent checks it out, and only stopping at houses that have lights on.