I'm am paranoid too, because I would rather err on the side of safety. I wouldn't trust a stranger near them.

The teachers should have contacted the police immediately, no pro takes pictures of kids in a schoolyard without permission. This should be a red flag and the parents should be included in this process of investigating this , and they can involve their children with the school and law enforcements cooperation to a degree that it increases the kids situational awareness because it is a good example of a dangerous situation involving a probable predator.
The kids need to see that communicating can get them support, help and protection from their school, police and parents and that their welfare is a priority . These kids need to know there are people who they can trust and have support be it bullying, a gang situation, domestic abuse , a predator positioned in the community in a position of trust . Kids need to be able to communicate and understand things so they are not victimized and have multiple allies , not just a teacher, a leader or a parent but multiple safe people advocating for their safety.
Situational awareness can be anything from how to handle oneself getting lost in an urban setting, to getting off trail in the wilderness , to decisions like skiing out of bounds ( my kids were skiing off frozen waterfalls this weekend and I am positive that was not on any double black diamond run so had potential to be a bad outcome ) to how you handle negotiation in a conflict situation . This needs to be worked on constantly to achieve more thinking and resilient people.

A good idea, if you havent already done so, is to give your kids "code words".

My wife and i had ours with our kids whereas, if there were an emergency and you need to send someone to pick them up from wherever, school/mall, that person needs the code word or the kids do not go.

My parents did it with us kids, and we now encourage our kids to do the same with their kids.

there are too many stories about preditors using the excuse the they are a "family friend", or "your mom sent me to come get you"

your code work would keep them from getting into a strangers vehicle.

Im with the last 2 posts on this. Syn has it right as there is NO reason for that and a professional wouldn't even think of it. Also the code words are good but at 11 and 9 they should be well on their way to whats not right. I also fully believe that this world is getting way overboard in the fact of the predators AND the school. Kids need to be kids and parents need to be parents. If you had the talk I would let them both go together to school and give then some reigns even if you have to stay back like a P.I. and watch them travel a few times. Now it goes without saying that there may also be a few spots that are totally suspicious but I do believe we need them to grow as WE did. If not they grow into what we are seeing today and honestly the boys are feminized and the girls are under lock and key.

Teach them whats right. Instil the code words and let them be kids.

Then I would go get your hubby and sit and wait and take this up with the individual 1 on 1. Thats whats different now a days is these predators know we don't have the time or will to see something thru???? Show up and grab the &%*^&$ by the face and drag him into the office all the while asking whom you call. See what he says then!

Otherwise I sympathize with you but I fully believe we need to take this world back.

Who in their right mind would think that by saying your a photographer outside a school looking for swimsuit models. The prick would have been out like a light and I would drag him to the office so to complete the process as intended. Then I would get to work on the school!

We love the idea of the code words and started working with the kids to come up with them this weekend. I also spoke with the principle this morning about what the school is doing. They are making changes to the school and are having cameras installed in the back where they kids gather for school and for recess. We are letting the kids walk by themselves to school, but by a route I chose. I know other families on the route and they will be able to walk with other kids. The problem so far is my wife. We have had too many men already make comments on how pretty our daughter is and my wife worries about them being alone. Both my kids have basic self-defence training and I have taught them both how to use swords since they were around 4. I have even started them on basic firearms training using my text books from my course and a training model from berretta. I do not want them to fear the world just be prepared for it.

kids, and friends/family, if they are in trouble at any time, we have always responded to a situation by yelling for help.
however, it has been proven that not many people respond to "help".
the best way to get a response in a time of emergency, the best word to yell would be "fire"
more people would respond to fires than they would someone yelling help.

Other types of situational awareness for kids might be being more observant of the weather and understanding the importance of dressing appropriately . I don't know how many times I have seen high school kids in freezing weather, even snow, in crop tops and no jacket, high heels, shorts ... Also awareness of things like potential problems in crowds at a rally be it some social or political cause, a sporting event , movie theatre or a crowded shopping mall at christmas , fireworks display or parade , anywhere a large crowd gathers , one should be more aware of an exit strategy and watchful for behaviour of others that is indicative of trouble . There is situational awareness of which your kids friends are less mentally balanced and likely to instigate dangerous or harmful activity , ( good grief I have seen this time after time in adults too and I have finally learned to stay clear ) especially those kids who are unsupervised in their homes after school etc. Situational awareness at the personal distance kids put between themselves and strangers when they are conversing say, if someone asks for directions in a car it might be one thing to be helpful from a distance pointing and speaking loudly but unsafe to actually walk right up to the car door to point at a map if they ask. As mentioned above, there is awareness even if family friends are commenting on how pretty a daughter is , well any child really whether it is a public comment but especially if the person says it to your child in private , say while briefly left in a room like a kitchen together, your child should know it is significant enough to be wary and to inform their parents who will act appropriately . Another concept is the facebook or chat person your child does not actually know befriending them . I moved the computer into the dining room where I could watch from my work desk or while cooking so I could monitor my kids better , after talking extensively with them as some guy claiming to be in his thirties started a conversation saying he was having problems with his girlfriend . My kids thought they were being friendly and I pointed out in the real world adults do not generally discuss their relationship problems with kids . I can think of so many situations where people should pay more attention to what is going on around them and children of varying ages are targets to some people , whether it is securing information even about when your family is out of town on vacation or there is something about the environment around them ,even weather like a thunderstorm that could put them in potential danger with lightening . Good grief the adult friends , even teachers and experts , I have known who may have survived had they been a little more cautious hiking, biking, horse riding but were killed because of their own confidence with familiar activities is concerning . They seem to disregard taking a more careful approach analysing the situation because of their familiarity . We lost a very accomplished horse rider this last week and one before christmas, who would have thought ? These are adults I know so it beguils me to think kids would not be just as distracted or lack precaution because they are not respectfully analysing risks in a situation. Sorry just saying what I think. I don't think this matter of situational awareness should be dismissed . I have put myself in danger more than once making a bad judgement call like not wanting to appear defensive around strangers, not taking precautions when i should have and at other times I have acted with precaution when a crowd likewise were noticing a problem and no one else acted except me which may have made me look skittish but erring on the side of caution and taking action saved me from being in a rapid transit train that caught on fire . Situational awareness should be taken up as one of the top skills to continuously hone to keep you safe .

So this weekend we have been discussing Situational Awareness and prepping with our kids. This year we have had some problems with some guy hanging around their school taking pictures of all the kids. When he was approached by teachers he described himself as a photographer and was looking for some new bathing suit models. At dinner tonight my daughter asked why I react the way I do to people approaching them. We explained to both the kids what kinds of people are out there and what things to look out for. They also now understand why I still walk them to school even though their classmates walk by themselves. We have also talked with them about what things we are doing to make them safe at home and when we are out as a family. LOL they both say that I am nuts and are glad I am. I told them my #1 job is to protect the family by any means I have to.

I would like some feedback on this and maybe some ideas on how we can give them a little more freedom. They are 9(girl) and 11(boy).

Thanks all for the help

in the winter and they didn't call the police?

Can you pm me with the area of the city? I will see if I can get that information added to some of the local community papers

in the winter and they didn't call the police?

Can you pm me with the area of the city? I will see if I can get that information added to some of the local community papers

The school has been putting out warnings about what is happening and we are seeing more cops in the area. We have had problems with a guys grabbing women in the area at night and some guy hanging around the fire station as well. The principle is working closely with the police and parents. We are doing what we can for our kids and watching out for some of the others we know.