10 Essential Safety Rules to Teach Your Children

Every parent is responsible for the well-being and safety of their kids. And it is their liability to teach their children how to behave so that they do not get in trouble. What are the effective ways to teach kids safety rules to follow and protect your baby from potential dangers?

Modern Technologies

Undeniably, the trust between children and parents is crucial. However, it is necessary to remember that kids cannot handle all the possible situations. There is a possibility to track phone number free of charge, install a tracking app, or buy a GPS watch. Regardless of what you choose, it is better to be safe than sorry.

How to Teach Kids: 10 Tips

Every child is unique. Of course, parents know better than anyone how to talk to their son or daughter. However, there are some general recommendations from psychologists you should take into account.

1. Ask children, do not just teach them

Instead of instructions and various no-phrases, it is better to ask your baby which of the passers-by seems suspicious and which is a good person. And, after hearing the answers, talk to your child gently and friendly.

Your baby should know for sure that no stranger should turn to someone else’s child on the street. And if someone has started a conversation, it is either a criminal or an ill-mannered adult. And it is unnecessary to be polite or obedient in this situation.

2. Show how to respond to people

The best answer for a child under 12 is, “I don’t know you and will not talk to you!” or “I don’t talk to strangers.” Teenagers can say, “I’m in a hurry. My parents are waiting for me.”

A child must know how to interrupt any dialogue confidently. Also, a kid should pass by if a stranger talks to them without being afraid to seem impolite. Let the child see the whole sequence of correct actions and repeat it cheerfully and confidently.

You may also simulate the following situations:

home alone,
a phone call from a stranger,
a man comes up on the street and asks,
you are standing by the elevator, and a man comes up,
lost in a shopping center,
lost on the street,
lost a cell phone,
someone is walking behind, etc.

3. Replace the words criminal or suspicious person with a stranger

The overwhelming majority of children aged 5-12 describe a criminal as a person in black pursuing passers-by and believe that they can distinguish a criminal from a good person. It is crucial to clarify that both a woman and a senior can be a villain. Any strange person is a potential offender for a child.

4. Give your child confidence

Tell the children that while they are in a crowded place, they are safe. They can always use their two weapons. These are fast legs and a loud voice. Reassure the child that he/she can do whatever he/she wants if an unknown person does not go away after the words, “I do not talk to strangers.”

Tell your baby to scream, run away, or even break a window or throw a stone into a car to trigger an alarm. A child can fall into a puddle in a new jacket or cling tightly to a fence, ask for help, run into a store or pharmacy, bank or café.

An offender will not dare drag the screaming and stubborn child, so practice screaming with your child right on the street. Your baby should not hesitate to attract attention and ask for help. Take your child to safety training so that he or she gains the confidence to rebuke in any situation.

5. A child should learn the phone numbers of mom & dad

In addition to the passwords that you need to invent, list all your relatives and friends whom the child can trust and with whom, for example, he/she can leave school if something happens to you.

6. Show how to ask for help

If a child is lost or someone is stalking them, make sure your child knows whom they can approach:

women with children,
employees of any store, pharmacy, café.

7. Remove all information from your social media

The main taboos are:

no photos with children on the profile picture,
no contacts or links to family members,
no place of work,
no list of colleagues.

Become a friend of your kids on social media. Send them GIFs, chat with them, but do not interfere too much. It will be much easier to understand who your child is communicating with on the Internet and what he/she is interested in.

8. Do not buy your children expensive tablets and smartphones

First, a child who is carried away by a conversation on the network loses vigilance and does not pay attention to the danger. And secondly, a lonely schoolboy with a device is easy prey for robbers or drug addicts who track down such victims in public transport in the morning.

The scheme is simple:

going out of a bus after a child,
chasing at a short distance,
waiting for a relatively deserted section of the road.

At best, a robber will steal a tablet or phone and run away; at worst, a villain can hit or stun a child.

9. Install a parental control system on the child’s mobile phone

You will be able to see where your child is and even set up a safe zone. You will receive an SMS if a child leaves it. Also, it will be possible to control the content your baby watches online and track communication channels.

10. Do not react aggressively to any unpleasant information

Children lie and do not inform their parents about dangerous situations or some problems on the Internet, at school, or with peers. They are afraid that their parents will punish them if they tell the truth. Sometimes it is better to be patient and understanding to keep abreast of your child’s personal life and have a trustful relationship with your son or daughter.

Final Words

Parents are worried about the safety of their children. However, unfortunately, no adult can protect their kids forever. So, the crucial task is to teach them how to stay safe on their own.

Read Also