Safety first is a rule every parent lives by, but it’s also important that safety rules are easy for children to understand and follow.
Having listened to parents describe ‘the moments that change a family in seconds, ‘ psychologists Caitlin Slavens and Chelsea Bodie have identified clear rules for children to follow to prevent tragedy.
6 important safety rules for children
The safety rules they have instilled in their children include:
No water watching without an adult
First on the list is that children should not be near water without an adult present, and they need to be present at the time.
They emphasise that there needs to be an ‘undistracted adult’ in the vicinity of kids playing in the water at all times.
They write: ‘Not, ‘I’m just dipping my toes'”, not “I’m just grabbing my toy ‘, whether it’s a pool, lake, pond, hot tub, kiddie pool,
No chasing items
Another safety rule to instill in your children is that they should never chase an item that rolls out of their grip.
Tell them: ‘If something goes into the street, we let it go. ‘
‘The ball can go, the toy can go, that hat can go, their favourite drawing can go. We can replace the thing; we cannot replace them. ‘
Check danger spots first if a child goes missing
When the worst happens, and a child goes missing, Catlin and Chelsea advise checking ‘danger’ spots first because quick thinking and acting fast can make all the difference.
‘The safest plan is to start where time matters: water, roads, driveways, cars. Places they could hide, climb into or get stuck.’
Never respond to requests for help
It’s important that your children know not to respond to requests from adults for help.
‘If a grown-up asks my children to help find a dog, carry something, give directions, walk somewhere or keep them company, my child does not need to decide if the adult is safe.
‘They just need one rule: ‘I will get my mom/dad’ to help.
Secrets Vs Surprises
Children also need to know that they will never be in trouble for telling secrets and to know the difference between secrets and surprises.
‘A surprise has an ending. Someone finds out soon, like a birthday gift or a special plan. A secret that an adult asks a child to keep from their parent is different.
‘My kids know that if anyone ever says: “Don’t tell your mum that is exactly the kind of thing I want them to tell me. They’ll never be in trouble for telling. ‘
Knowing contact details is vital
Ensuring your child knows your real name can become so important when something goes wrong.
The experts also says that kids should know their parents or caregivers full names, addresses and phone numbers so they can use them when needed.
As a parent, do you agree with these safety rules?
