As a parent, you must be aware of safety issues that could affect your children, and you must communicate these issues to your children and give them tools for keeping safe, without scaring them unnecessarily. This requires keeping open lines of communication with your children, especially as they get older. It also involves taking precautions to protect them against dangers at home and outside the home. Being vigilant and giving your children gradually increasing amounts of responsibility will go a long way toward keeping them safe.
Step 1
Supervise your children. Young children need constant supervision to prevent them from choking, drowning and getting into dangerous items or substances. Install and use childproofing devices such as baby gates and cabinet locks. But remember that these safety devices are not a substitute for your watchful eye.
Step 2
Learn CPR, recommends KidsHealth. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR, can save your child's life if he stops breathing or if his heart stops beating. Even if you already know how to perform CPR on adults, take a class to learn how to perform CPR on infants and children, because the technique is different.
Step 3
Use safety equipment. Never let infants or small children ride in a car unless they are in the appropriate car seat or booster seat. When they are big enough to use a regular seatbelt, insist that they buckle up. Make your children wear a helmet when they ride a bicycle, skateboard or rollerskate. Use the straps on high chairs and strollers to prevent falls, according to the website KeepKidsHealthy.
Step 4
Know where your older kids are. According to Time, parents of older children should not let them wander the neighborhood or beyond alone. Know who they are with, where they are going and when they will return. Set reasonable rules regarding curfews and physical boundaries.
Step 5
Talk to your kids often about safety as issues arise. Remind them about water safety before you go to the beach or pool, for example. If you are visiting a friend with a trampoline, remind them about the safety rules before you leave. Your children might protest, but the information will be fresh in their minds.
Step 6
Role-play a variety of safety situations. Talking to your kids about safety is good, but acting it out can help the information stick. Have fire drills to make sure that your kids know how to get out of the house in case of emergency. Act out what your kids should do if a stranger grabs them at the park, or if an acquaintance tries to lure them into a vehicle.
Step 7
Stress to kids that safety is more important than being polite. If someone is making them uncomfortable, they should say "No!" and leave the area immediately. They should never get into a car with anyone without your permission. Assure your kids that you will not be mad at them for hurting someone's feelings if they are trying to keep themselves safe.
Tips and Warnings
- Keep the lines of communication open. Make sure your kids know that they can talk to you about anything, at any time. Post the number for Poison Control next to every telephone. Also post your address and telephone number in a prominent location; during the stress of an emergency situation, you might momentarily forget your address.
Things You'll Need
- Childproofing devices
- Car seat
- Bicycle helmets
