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Child Safety Tips: Here are Our Most Valuable
As parents, we can never do enough to keep our children safe. Just when you think you have covered every aspect of safety, something happens to make you rethink your safety measures. We hope you find the following child safety tips, from our partner site StopSexOffenders.com, helpful and informative. Nothing is as precious as the life of a child...your child.
School and Summer Camp Safety
"Latch-key" children need to know some basic safety rules. These children go home from school or camp to an empty house because their parents work full-time. If your child has no one to stay with while you're not home, try to designate a "safe house" nearby... a neighbor's house where they can go if they don't feel safe at home. If they go home and have a feeling that something isn't right, for ie: if they think they are being followed, or if the door to their house is ajar, let them know they should not go inside. Better safe than sorry.
Do not put your child's name on the outside of any article of clothing, school bags, books, or other items. Strangers looking to abduct a child may use this "free" information to establish a conversation with your child. When this happens, the "stranger" is no longer a stranger to the child, because his/her guard has been weakened. If you must label their clothing, do so on the inside where no one can see it.
If your child has allergies, you should always inform the school or camp, and provide any medication or an epi-pen for emergency use. Encourage your highly allergic child to not share their school lunches, and to not accept anyone else's foods. This is to protect yours and other children who should not be eatiing certain foods due to serious allergies. Even if you inform school or camp officials, teach your children to avoid all foods that they are unsure of.
As parents, we should know our children's school or camp activity schedules. Always know where your child is at all times. The exact time your child is supposed to be at school or camp; what time they have lunch; what time they are in other classrooms; and what time they leave to go home. If you do not drive your child to school or camp, make sure you have mapped out a safe route for him/her to walk or ride their bicycle, and know exactly how long it should take. If they ride the bus, you should know what time they get on and what time they get off at the bus stop.
Before sending your child off to school, check their clothing, shoes and knapsacks for any hanging or loose pullstrings. These dangling strings pose a danger to your child because of the probability of them getting snagged on something, eespecially if they ride the bus. Any hanging strings should be cut off or wrapped around so that they are short enough to be out of harms way.
Field trips are a fun part of the school and camp experience! Be sure to explain to your child, the importance of staying with the group and not wandering off on their own. Always choose a buddy and make sure the teacher or camp counselor can see you at all times. Your child should know the name of their school or camp, and know how to find help if they get lost. If your child cannot locate anyone in authority, or an employee working in the area, they should know to approach an adult for help (preferably a woman). When going on rides, make sure children listen to and understand the safety instructions they are given.
Internet Safety Tips
The Internet is a wide open space, with endless possibilities. Before I let you in on the dangerous side of the Internet, let me first say that there are many positive ways in which children can use it. It can help them with homework, they can keep in touch with friends and family, they can have fun playing games and learn from programs. But aside from using the Internet in a positive way, danger is lurking closeby...in unsuspecting emails, email attachments, Internet chat rooms, instant messages, etc. In order for children to remain safe and still enjoy the positive aspects that the Internet provides, parents need to be somewhat involved in their children's online time. They should be aware of who their children communicate with online, and depending on their age they should know who is sending them email. If parents keep an open line of communication with their children, they will more than likely keep that relationship with them if something ever happens while online, or if they ever feel uncomfortable. Below are some rules that parents and children should follow for Internet time:
Computers need to be in a family area -- never put a computer with online access in a child's bedroom. Parents should monitor children's time on the Internet. Explain to your child the dangers of chat rooms, instant messaging, and opening attachments in emails.
Parents need to go over Internet Safety Rules with their children, before they go online. Children have no idea about Internet dangers unless someone tells them! If parents explain the following dangers, children will have a better understanding of what could happen. Major rules for online safety:
- Never give your name, address, phone number, or any other personal information out to anyone online;
- Never post a photo of yourself online;
- Never meet with anyone you've met online.
Parents need to supervise computer time. Depending on a child's age, parents should either sit with the child while online, or keep checking in. Parents need to supervise any Internet activity, including chatrooms. If a child is chatting with someone or receiving email with someone, parents should know their names and what is being discussed. Children should know that not everyone is who they say they are.
More Internet Safety Tips
Children should not respond to threatening or harrassing instant messages or emails, and they should never open email attachments without their parents' permission.
Tell children that if someone appears too good to be true, they probably are. Internet child predators disguise who they really are so they can seek out children. Predators pretend to be a child's friend and pretend to like everything they do, in an attempt to arrange a meeting or find out personal information to stalk a child or plan an abduction.
Children should know that if something doesn't feel right about an online conversation, they should immediately get offline and tell their parents.
General Safety Tips
Parents should make safety rules a part of their child's everyday life. The more safety is discussed in the family, the more routine it comes and the more chance that children will remember the rules when and if they ever need them. Here are more great safety tips:
Parents should explain to children that they should stay away from anyone who calls them to go near their car, even if they offer to take them somewhere exciting. Once children are near enough to someone's car, they loose the "power of distance." Have children establish a "safety zone," a safe enough amount of room where they can keep safe and run the other way if they need to.
Teach your children to always ride their bikes with a buddy, and never ride alone. Make sure they always wear their helmet.
Establish neighborhood boundaries for your children, in which they may play.
Encourage your children to walk and play with friends - they should never go anywhere alone. Remind them to avoid places that could possibly be dangerous... vacant apartment buildings, alleys, playgrounds with broken equipment, etc. Also, they should never go anywhere without telling a parent first.
As a parent or guardian, you should always try to set a good example for your child. Be sure to lock your doors and windows (even during the day), and always check who's at the door before opening it.
Tell children that if someone tries to take them away, they should yell, "He's not my father!" or "She's not my mother!"
Life can be taken from us in just one swift moment. To focus on the gun-issue, please...discuss the dangers of guns with your children. Tell them if they ever see a gun to STOP, DON'T TOUCH, & CALL AN ADULT. Children need to be made aware of the consequences.
Children have important things to say too! Take time to listen to your child's concerns and fears. Be sure to listen to their feelings about other people and places that make them feel uneasy. Tell them they should trust their own instincts!! Keep an open line of communication between you and your children. Make sure they know that you are there for them in case they ever need to discuss a serious matter with you. Tell them you will try and solve all problems together, no matter how bad things may seem.
Do not EVER leave your children unattended in your vehicle, and NEVER allow children to play in or around vehicles - not even for a minute!
Teach your children all about the tricks people may use to try and gain their trust. Discuss possible situations and give them solutions - if they're ever in a dangerous situation, they will have the knowledge to possibly keep them out of harm's way.
The following should be used with caution: Some parents establish a "code word" between them and their children. If you choose to use a code word, make it anything that is easy for your child to remember. Explain to your child that only adults responsible for them will know this code word (mom, dad, siblings, grandparents, other adult that is authorized to pick them up from school), and to never go anywhere with anyone they don't know unless they know the code word. Tell your child to keep their code a secret! Code words are not a fool-proof safety measure, since in order for a child to ask someone what the "code word" is, they need to let them get close enough so they can hear it. In turn, they let people they don't know into their "safety zone." Remember the "power of distance!"
In dealing with children's fears and anxieties, it is best to accept them as very real. The intensity and duration of children's symptoms decrease more rapidly when families can show that they understand their feelings. So, be understanding, tolerant of any temporary regressive behavior, and most of all...be patient and loving.
Keep your eyes or hands on your children in crowded places, such as holiday seasons at stores, or festivals, etc. It's very easy to get distracted while in a crowd, and it only takes an instant for your child to disappear from your view. Please hold your child in your arms or hold their hands while in crowded places. Would you put a fifty dollar bill down on the counter and turn away? No? How about a twenty? Our children are worth more than any amount of money in the world! Never take your eyes off them, even for a minute.
Explain to your children that they should stay away from anyone who calls them to go near their car, even if they offer to take them somewhere exciting.
Teach your children to always ride their bikes with a buddy, and never ride alone. Make sure they always wear their helmet.
Establish neighborhood boundaries for your children, in which they may play.
As a parent or guardian, you should always try to set a good example for your child. Be sure to lock your doors and windows (even during the day), and always check who's at the door before opening it.
Keep an open line of communication between you and your children. Make sure they know that you are there for them in case they ever need to discuss a serious matter with you. Tell them you will try and solve all problems together, no matter how bad they may seem.
Encourage your children to walk and play with friends - they should never go anywhere alone. Tell them to avoid places that could possibly be dangerous...vacant apartment buildings, alleys, playgrounds with broken equipment, etc.
Children who walk to school alone, or to a store, or a friend's house, should always walk the trip first with an adult. You should make sure your children are indeed taking the safest route there and back, and on the way be sure to point out "safe places" -- where your child could go if they need help.
When teaching your children about child safety, use caution when teaching about child molesters. There is no need to scare children. All they need is information on how to handle specific situations...play "what-if" games with them. If they have confidence in their lives, they will have enough confidence to make the right decisions when they are away from you.
Before sending your child off to school, make sure there are no hanging or loose pullstrings on their clothing or knapsack. These are likely to get caught (especially if they ride the bus) and cause possible harm to your child. Either cut them totally off, or wrap them around so that they are short enough not to get caught on anything.
Convey the message to your children that weight and appearance are not the most critical aspects of their identity and self-worth. This will help keep them on the road toward healthy eating practices and attitudes. Also, parents should not talk about or behave as if they are constantly dieting. This can be detrimental to a child's self body image, and lead to an eating disorder. Read "Eating Disorders: Children in Crisis".
Children and those with weak immune systems are usually more susceptible to illness. If your child displays symptoms such as coughing, dizziness, sneezing, runny nose, red eyes, skin rashes...etc., your home may be contaminated with mold. Read "Toxic Mold: Is it Invading Your Home?"
Our children are our most precious gifts -- let's do all we can to keep them safe! Visit StopSexOffenders.com for more information on child and family safety!
The following link is to our own book - a rhyming safety story that was created to help young children develop some tools, so they will be able to remember basic facts about keeping safe. Included with the story are numerous safety tips for parents, inspiring quotes, and Child ID Cards! It's never too early to begin teaching your child about safety!
Below are some books that deal with child safety. Use Amazon.com's secure server to order:
Visit the following Internet sites for more information on child safety:
Copyright © MyParenTime.com -- informing parents about everything! Visit StopSexOffenders.com for more safety information and give your child the "power of knowledge!" With our permission, this content was reprinted in the August 2002 & August 2003 printed issues of Parenting Plus Magazine.
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