Youngsters learn safety tips — and offer a few of their own — with Stamford Police Officer Mike Nguyen.

Photo Credit: Rachel Hanna

This kindergartner gets a feel for the inside of a police car.

Photo Credit: Rachel Hanna

Before their visit from Officer Mike, students read the book "Officer Buckle and Gloria."

Photo Credit: Rachel Hanna

Stamford Police Officer Mike Nguyen has a special rapport with youngsters. He’s a former elementary school teacher himself. He visited K.T. Murphy School recently to share safety tips and show off gadgets with enthusiastic kindergartners.

“Officer Mike was amazing with the kids and volunteered his time to work with us when he could have been sleeping,” said K.T. Murphy PTO co-president Lorraine Masone. Nguyen works the night shift.

His visit was prompted by the kindergarten reading and writing curriculum, which included reading aloud the book, “Officer Buckle and Gloria.” The book, a Caldecott Medal-winner, is about a police officer who spends time with children at an elementary school and shares safety tips with them. After reading the story, students wrote letters to Officer Buckle, sharing their own safety tips. Their helpful advice included “Do not eat too many doughnuts,” “Always hold onto the railing when walking up and down the stairs” and “Never walk in the hallway when your shoelaces are untied,” Masone said.

The class wrote a cover letter, and then mailed it and the safety tips to local police. The students were thrilled to learn that Nguyen, their own Officer Buckle, would visit them.

Nguyen’s visit enlightened the students about police officers and what they do, said Masone. “It goes to show you that not everything can be taught in a book,” she said. “These types of real-life experiences really make an impact.”

What kinds of safety tips do you teach your youngster?