7 Safety Habits You Should Teach to Your Child
It’s a scary big world out there and while it’s true that anything can happen, it doesn’t mean you should let your life be decided by the fates. Preventative measures and safety habits are important so that nothing untoward or unnecessary occurs. One of the most vulnerable demographic for accidents and crimes is children.
A way to ensure your child’s complete protection is adult supervision. However, once your kid reaches a certain age when they have to go to school or play outside, it can be difficult to safeguard their well-being without a watchful eye at all times. If you are worried about your kid’s safety, there are rules and guidelines you need to impose or have them remember. Read on below to know more:
Basic Contact Details
In times of emergency, it is important for children to know basic contact details like their complete name, address, and a contact number. As a backup number, have them memorize a secondary number like an aunt or a trusted friend they can call in case you or your partner are unavailable or cannot be reached. It also helps if they can identify the nearest landmark to the home.
Never Accept Food/Transportation from a Stranger
Staying away from bad people is an instinct that most people have, but you can never be too careful nowadays. Your kid should know to never accept any kind of food or ride from a stranger. When a stranger says “Your parent or guardian asked me to pick you up and take you home,” instruct them in times like these to go to the nearest adult or call out for help. Under no circumstance should a child ever have to interact with a stranger, save for someone they trust, like a grandparent or an uncle.
Boundaries of Touching
Another safety rule to teach your children is to never allow anyone to touch them inappropriately. Hugs and high fives are okay, but let them understand that there is a boundary between appropriate and inappropriate touching. Instruct your kids to alert people immediately by shouting or running to the nearest helpful adult if someone has touched them inappropriately.
Crossing the Road
It’s nice to have independent children who can walk to and from school because it’s one less thing to do for you. However, they should know about road safety, especially when crossing the road. Even with adult supervision, your children should know to look left and then right before crossing the street while holding the hand of an adult or someone older. Always have them pass in pedestrian lanes where a traffic officer or a stop sign will be visible to all drivers.
Another thing to teach children regarding road safety is to never run on the road because it may put them at risk of falling. When riding a bike or scooter, always have them wear a safety helmet and gear. Lastly, when they’re alighting from the car, always have them go out from the side of the road.
When Locked Out
Sometimes you get locked out of your own house. While it’s not a big deal most of the time, it can be worrying if you have a small child inside. A quick fix would be to stash a hidden key somewhere outside the house so you can quickly go back in.
It is also a good idea to teach your child how to lock and unlock doors but only for family or people they know. If worse comes to worst and you have to shimmy yourself inside without calling for the lockmaster, you can always lockpick the front door, and if you’re skilled, you can use everyday items.
If breaking into your own house is not your cup of tea, you can ninja your way inside by trying a window or a door or finding an entry in the garage. Take extra care when climbing to avoid falling or bumping your head. You can also install a smart lock that allows you to access your house, using a device like a phone, a tablet, or a passcode.
Identify Dangerous Things
There are a lot of things that are dangerous to children. Water, fire, electricity, and sharp things are some of the most common items that can be found in any home. While you can keep these things out of their reach, these are necessary for daily living, such as when you have to cook or use electricity for an appliance. Tell your children that there are things that they should never play with, and help identify what these hazardous items are.
Stay Anonymous Online
The internet is accessible to almost everyone, including children. While having information or entertainment at your fingertips is a blessing most times, there are dangers that lurk on the World Wide Web as well.
Kids start their exposure online because of YouTube and video games, and while it is recommended to keep a close eye on their usage, it is never bad to be too cautious. Train your children to never give any kind of information about themselves to anyone online, and if someone is talking to them online, let your kids go to an adult for help.
What other safety habits do you think children should learn from their parents or guardians? Share your thoughts below.
