Safety First: Helping Kids Stay Safe
Safety First: it’s a common phrase but we ignore it all the time.
You sit in the airplane and ignore all the safety instructions - don't we all? It’s complacency, the mortal enemy of safety.The best way to make people safe is to teach safety habits when they are young. Once something becomes a habit or second nature, you don’t have to worry about complacency setting in.
An article in the Daily Tribune caught my attention: Teaching kids how to stay safe. Well, in general I agree with the author that teaching assertiveness helps with safety, but there are other critical areas that the writer fails to mention.
Safety is a big topic and cannot be covered in one article. But let's review common-sense ways of teaching kids some basic but very important safety habits:
- Do not talk on your cell phone when you go out for a walk with your kids. No one said “practicing what you preach” was easy.
- Look before you cross a road every time, and make sure your kids do the same. Most of the grown-ups don't follow this rule themselves as they think they don't need to.
- When you are driving your kids, make sure to follow good driving habits. Again, don't be talking on the phone while driving. When you stop at a stop sign, explain to your kids why you did so. Kids learn by watching you.
- As for safety from strangers, make sure they know how to get in touch with you in case they get separated from you in a crowded place. They should know your cell number and whom to ask for help. For little kids, write the cell number on a piece of paper and put it in their pockets when they go to crowded places or on field trips.
- Practice with them how to say “no” to strangers – play role-modeling games with them.
- Play "Lost" at home where you pretend that they are lost and they need to figure out a way to contact you. Play the game often enough so it gets ingrained in their heads.
- Walkie-talkies are fun, cheap and a great way to ensure you can communicate with your kids in case they get separated.
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