While parenting lively little ones is a proud experience for loving parents, safety anxiety is a common challenge that all parents face. Whether your little one is ready to start school or you are concerned about the ongoing child trafficking pandemic that never seems to take priority in mainstream news across the globe, teaching your child about safety measures is essential, online and in real-life.
Even though every parent longs to make the world a perfect place for their little ones, the unfortunate reality is that you can only prepare your child to navigate the dangerous reality we share. Giving your child the tools to stay safe and out of harm’s way is extremely vital in today’s day and age. If you don’t know where to get started, we have compiled this list of essential safety measures that every child should know by the time they are of school-going age.
Know Your Name, Address, And Phone Number
Your little one might still be small, although a child as young as four years old is capable of memorizing their parents’ names, a cell phone number, and a home address. Going over this information with your child every day in a parrot-fashion learning manner is enough to have the details set in their memories within a few weeks. The minimal amount of effort invested into teaching your child to memorize these details could ultimately save their life if they became lost. As your child grows, teaching them a back-up contact number is a great idea.
How To Use Safety Devices
Investing in a safety alarm keyring and other safety devices is an excellent idea for parents concerned about their child’s safety when traveling to and from school and different everyday situations in which your child cannot be by your side. An alarm keyring is simple enough to use, although you should still teach your child how to use the device and what situations call for action on their part. Other types of safety devices that are great for kids are smart safety accessories such as bracelets and necklace pendants that send distress messages to a contact list at the press of a disguised button. Suppose you opt for this type of device. In that case, you will need to educate your child on using the device without alarming potential danger, as your child will need to be inconspicuous when sending distress messages.
Never Eat Anything Offered By A Stranger
An old rule to teach children is to never talk to a stranger. However, your children should also know to refuse any food offerings from strangers. It is crucial to tell your child about situations a stranger may offer food and why they should reject the offering. Kids who are not aware of the dangers of accepting things from strangers can be lured into harm’s way. What’s more, you should extend the topic to educate your little one about suitable action to take when being offered food by a stranger. Your child should know that they need to leave the situation immediately and seek a trusted adult or a safe place. Smaller children should be taught to scream and make as much of a commotion as possible in this type of unfortunate situation.
Never Climb Walls And Fences
Child trafficking concerns are not the only lurking dangers for little ones, as severe injuries are another worry parents are faced with. We all know children have unwavering confidence, great curiosity, and a knack for being quite clumsy, making them quite accident-prone. Therefore, you should also teach your child never to climb fences and walls for any reason. Even if they have thrown a ball or toy over a seemingly climbable barrier, you should teach your child to always seek the help of an adult.
Never Leave The Yard Alone
Every parent knows little ones can wander off while playing. However, your child should learn never to leave the yard alone. It would be best if you extended this lesson to teach them never to leave from the school grounds or play areas on their own no matter the situation. To help your child understand the boundaries for their safety, you should specify the place they should play within, especially if they are still relatively young. What’s more, even if your child knows this rule of safety, you should ensure your little one is always accompanied by yourself, your partner, or a trusted adult.
The Dangers Of Fire
Curious little minds will be intrigued by the concept of fire. Educating your child on the dangers of playing with fire is extremely important. Your child should know that lighting even one match can cause devastating impacts if a fire breaks out. While it is best to keep matches and lighters away from small children, you will also need to teach them why they shouldn’t fall victim to curiosity when it comes to fire.
Privacy And Self-Awareness
Your little one needs to know that no one should ever touch their bodies without their consent. While previously children were educated not to allow anyone to touch private areas on their bodies, it is best to teach them no touching as a primary standard while highlighting the private regions’ understanding. Because grooming methods suggest that child predators can spend ample time preparing your child to be comfortable enough, your child should be able to identify an inappropriate arm caress and other gestures that could seem harmless. Teaching your child about privacy and self-awareness is essential for several reasons, although such lessons can also keep them safe from predators. Moreover, it would be best to teach your child what to do in such an unpleasant situation. Your little one should know to scream for help, press their safety alarm, send a distress message, and try to alert anyone nearby.
If You Are Lost, Wait
It is not at all uncommon for parents to misplace a toddler or small child while shopping or eating out; as we all know, curious minds tend to wonder. While there are several everyday instances where loving parents have lost their little ones for a short time, teaching your child what to do when lost can keep them safe. If your child has a safety alarm or a GPS accessory, you should teach them to use the device to signal for help. In addition to this, your child should know to wait precisely where they are until you or authorities find them. What’s more, be sure to teach your child to never leave with a stranger if they become lost.
In fact, everything is much simpler. Many sites already have a streamlined 1 to 1 learning process. Most often, online tutors use good software that can guarantee the safety of your data and all training.