Too Smart for Strangers is a 1985 direct-to-video special of Welcome to Pooh Corner.
In this special, children are taught how to behave around strangers, how to watch for danger and even addresses the subject of child molestation.
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Plot[]
It opens with Winnie the Pooh skipping along and singing a song mentioning strangers. He initially does not know what a stranger is, but then he says they are not like mom and dad and a stranger is someone you don't know. He adds that you should be careful because if you don't know someone, you don't know what their motivations are.
He then sees Piglet and tells him that bad strangers who want to hurt kids exist. Pooh goes on to say that there are good and bad ones, but there is no spotable difference so be suspicious around everyone you don't know, never trust people right away, and remember to think. He adds that just because somebody behaves affably doesn't mean they actually want to be your friend.
Pooh then says you can help yourself, because you have the right. He mentions the three important ways to do so, which are saying, "No" to strangers, running away, and telling a grown up you trust, such as your parents. Then they sing a song about saying no to many things, including treats and rides. They also mention to run and yell and tell a grown up you know. They reiterate that kids should be wary because even if someone looks nice they may not be. They then say that Tigger knows a lot.
It then cuts to Tigger, who brings Roo on screen. Tigger mentions to avoid unsafe places with no people around like alleys, public restrooms, parking lots, and more. He shows a video of a girl named Karen who is leaving the park because it's late. She then takes a shortcut through an alley because she left too late, which Tigger implies is a bad idea because she doesn't know what is in there. A random stranger then jumps out and Tigger asks some other children what they'd do if they were in Karen's shoes. They mention to run away and find an adult. Karen then tells her dad who is slightly mad, but mostly glad. Then, Tigger comments that what Karen did was an example of being too smart for strangers.
He goes on to mention that bad strangers could be anyplace and shows us Karen's friends, Kris and Kelly, walking home, and asks the viewers what to do if you see a neighborhood stranger. Kris and Kelly then see a stranger who asks for their names. Tigger asks other kids what Kris and Kelly should do, and they say to never tell a stranger your name or any other sensitive information, such as your address. The stranger asks Kris and Kelly for their names and in response they run away.
The kids then say to never worry about having to be polite to a stranger, to never put an arm out and to also stay an arm's distance away. They say that if a stranger acts inappropriately, to run, kick, scream, bite, punch, and tell a grown up until someone believes you. They also reiterate that you shouldn't give a stranger your information or go with them, and say that going with a friend/group is safer.
Eeyore then shows up along with Rabbit saying to never go with a stranger. They then explain that strangers might employ deception, or "bad tricks", and show a kid named Timmy. A stranger comes up to him asking if he will help him find his dog. Timmy, suspecting this to be a trick, says, "Sorry I can't do that" and bikes away to tell his parents. Rabbit, Eeyore, and Tigger say to never take anything from a stranger.
They then cut to two more kids, Gina and Jeff. A guy offers them money if they come get it. Some other kids say to run another direction if a stranger comes. The stranger says that he won't hurt them, but they run away and tell a cop. Eeyore then states, again, to never take things from strangers under any circumstances. They sing a song about not being fooled by tricks.
They then cut to a kid named Hallie and an adult comes up saying that her mom is sick and she is here to pick her up because she is a friend of her mom. In response, Hallie asks the school faculty, who say they didn't get a call. Hallie calls home and finds out that her mother is not sick after all, revealing that the woman was indeed trying to trick Hallie. Hallie then walks away from the stranger.
It cuts to Pooh and Piglet, who introduce the subject of what to do when you're home alone.
Then, it cuts to Owl, who says to never tell a stranger you're home alone. It cuts to a kid named Ryan who gets a call. Ryan then makes two bad choices: telling the man who called his name and that he's alone. He then has a feeling that he made a mistake and calls his neighbor who comes over. Owl mentions you should keep important numbers to call in case of something bad happening, such as your family members or 911.
It cuts to kids repeating Owl's advice about not saying your name or that you're home alone over the phone.
Then, it cuts to a girl named Rebecca, who is home alone and a stranger comes to her door. Owl tells us to never open the door and make sure it's locked at all times. Rebecca then calls her aunt.
Owl then sings a song, and then Rabbit appears, once again, to talk about tricks. Owl and Rabbit say that if someone says that something is important you should still never say you're alone. They show a girl named Sara who sees a stranger in the yard. He says he wants to see Sara's mom. Sara tells him her mom is busy and can't see him and she runs inside and locks the door. Sara calls her neighbor.
Tigger then appears so Owl can repeat those what-to-do steps. Piglet and Pooh appear saying that Owl's lesson was interesting. Piglet mentions that people you know could also be bad, with Pooh adding that they may want to touch you in a way which is bad, and that it's especially bad for someone to touch your private parts. They say your doctor might, along with your parents when they dress you, but only they should. Other people shouldn't. They then tell the viewers to say no and tell somebody even if the person touching you is someone you know.
Trivia[]
- This episode inspired the name of a Trope at the popular Wiki TV Tropes, a website devoted to discussing conventions found within works of media.
- In the The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh episode, Sorry, Wrong Slusher, which aired after this episode, Tigger gives Christopher Robin’s address to a man on the phone. However, in this episode, Tigger tells Roo to never give your address to a stranger. It is likely that Tigger forgot about this. Roo does not appear to stop Tigger.
Gallery[]
