You have a double responsibility when it comes to keeping your family safe. You must take care of things such as smoke alarms and auto maintenance, and you must establish guidelines for your children. Following family safety rules can not only keep kids from harm, but it also allows them to take responsibility for their actions and their well-being.
At Home
Teach children safety measures at home so they can protect themselves or respond to an emergency. If they're home alone, tell them not to answer the door until they know who's knocking, the Washington (DC) Metropolitan Police Department recommends. If the phone rings, they should say their parents can't come to the phone rather than revealing that their parents aren't home.
In case of emergency, kids should know how to dial 9-1-1. Get them to memorize their address, phone number and parents' complete names, but in case they panic, post a list with that information close to the phone.
On the Internet
Rules for online safety are essential, too, according to Enough Is Enough, a nonprofit agency dedicated to protecting families from Internet threats. Make sure your children understand not to reveal personal information, discuss family matters, enter chat rooms or arrange to meet online correspondents in person. Warn them about reading e-mails and opening links from people they don't know. Ask them to tell you if someone makes them feel scared or uncomfortable online, or if they run across inappropriate text or photos. Many parents write down the rules in the form of a contract and ask their children to sign it with them.
Sports and Recreation
Kids often need safety reminders when it comes to outdoor activities from playing soccer to riding bikes. For team sports, the National Institutes of Health suggests establishing rules such as warming up before play, drinking plenty of water, wearing proper shoes and equipment, and stopping in case of an injury. Kids also need ground rules for recreational play, including wearing helmets for bike riding, donning life vests for water sports, and sticking with a buddy for swimming or hiking.
Stranger Danger
You don't want to make your children paranoid, but they need to know the basic rules of dealing with strangers. They should never accept gifts from people they don't know, the Lawton (Oklahoma) Police Department instructs. They shouldn't get into a car --- even for a short ride to school --- or make a date to meet a stranger. If anyone makes them feel uncomfortable, your kids should go the other direction and report that person to you or the nearest authority figure such as a teacher, police officer or adult friend.
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