Keeping your child safe is a top priority for any parent. Teaching them to be wary of strangers, to stay in large groups in public and to be suspicious of Internet predators are things you can to do keep your children safe. There are other precautions kids must take, too, and engaging activities to help them participate in their own safety.
Personalized Bicycle Helmets
Safe Kids claims that 140 kids are killed in the U.S. while riding their bicycles every year. This statistic could be reduced if all children wore bike helmets. Some children refuse to wear helmets when riding bikes. One idea to make helmets more fun and desirable is to let your child decorate his helmet. Supply him with paint and stickers. Reflective paint offers even more protection for early morning or evening bicycle or skateboard riding. If your child personalizes his helmet to suit his style, he will be more inclined to wear it.
Halloween Preparations
Halloween is a ghoulishly fun holiday that kids love. But, scarier than the imaginary monsters looming in the dark, are the real dangers posed by nighttime trick or treating. One way to help your child stay safe as she sets out in the neighborhood to collect treats is to let her plan and draw a map of her route. The safety website McGruff.org suggests sitting with your child before the big night and planning her map together. Let her figure out her game plan, and make suggestions to help her stay in areas you deem safe. You can also give her reflective tape for her to stick onto her costume and allow her to decorate a flashlight with Halloween themed stickers. It's safest for kids to trick or treat in groups.
Fire Safety
Keeping your home safe from fire can be a family activity. Engage your kids in fire prevention and preparation. The United States Fire Administration for Kids suggests showing your kids where every smoke detector is and letting them help you test them monthly. Make a game of it. As your kids find each smoke alarm in the house, they get to test them. Let them help you replace old batteries with new ones. Give them a colorful feather duster to dust off smoke alarms to keep them in good, working condition. Practice the stop, drop and roll drill frequently. When you think your kids are mature enough that they won't be scared by talk of a fire in the house, sit down with them to draw a map of escape routes.
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