Answer Summary

Members shared deeply relatable concerns about teaching children with high-functioning autism to recognize stranger danger, noting that many... Read more

Members shared deeply relatable concerns about teaching children with high-functioning autism to recognize stranger danger, noting that many of their kids are naturally trusting, friendly, and struggle to understand abstract concepts like danger from unfamiliar people. Several members recommended practical strategies that have worked for them, including establishing a secret password system that only trusted adults know, practicing role-play scenarios where the child learns to say 'Back off, I'm not allowed to talk to strangers' in a loud voice with defensive hand gestures, and enrolling children in self-defense classes like Tae Kwon Do that incorporate stranger danger training in age-appropriate ways. A recurring theme was the importance of repetition, patience, and creative teaching methods like visual rule lists or social stories, while also acknowledging the challenge of balancing a child's wonderful social nature with necessary safety boundaries.