10 Essential Safety Rules for Kids
All parents want to keep the kids safe. But, as children grow older, you can’t be with them all the time. Children need their freedom so that they can learn and grow. Whilst you cannot watch over your kids 24/7, you can teach rules to follow that will help keep them safe. Here are ten basic safety rules that kids need to learn at an early age.
1. Remember Your Address and Phone Number
If children memorize their home address and their parent’s phone number, they can share that information with someone in an emergency. Kids of any age can wander off and get lost. So, the earlier they have this information memorized, the better.
2. Don’t Walk Off on Your Own
Very young children need to have strict boundaries. They shouldn’t walk off on their own at all. As they get older, this rule may change to become don’t go anywhere without telling an adult. If a young child needs to go somewhere, they should be accompanied by an adult.
3. Don’t Talk to Strangers
This is a basic rule that all kids should be taught. Don’t talk to strangers, don’t get in a stranger’s car, and don’t accept any gifts from strangers.
4. If You Get Lost, Stay Where you Are
If kids get separated from their parents, the best thing they can do is stay where they are. That will make it easier for the parents to find the child again. The most common places that children get lost is in stores. In this case, kids should understand that it’s OK to get help from a store assistant or from a mom with kids.
5. No Playing with Fire
Kids are naturally curious, but it is important that they learn that playing with fire is not allowed. Matches, cigarette lighters, and flammable materials should be kept out of the reach of children. Even if you do that at home, kid’s still need to learn how dangerous playing with fire is.
6. Don’t Climb Over any Fences
Children need to be taught that fences are there for a reason. If they are playing ball and the ball goes over a fence, they should ask an adult to retrieve it for them. Climbing fences can be dangerous. What’s on the other side of the fence may be dangerous too.
7. No One is Allowed to Touch You
You can teach children at an early age that secret touching is not allowed. This doesn’t need to be too descriptive or frightening. It can be a simple rule that adults are not allowed to touch kids’ bodies. Kid’s should also understand that it is OK to tell their parents if an adult does do something inappropriate.
8. Know What 911 is For
Children should be taught how to dial 911 in an emergency. However, they should also be taught that 911 is only to be used for real emergencies. There have been many cases where young children who have been taught how to use 911 have saved an adult’s life.
9. Don’t Put Any Personal Information Online
Very young children should be supervised when they go online. Older kids should be taught not to put any personal information online and never agree to meet anyone in person that they have met online.
10. Trust Your Instinct
If it doesn’t feel right, don’t do it. Even if your friends are doing it. Children have gut feelings when something is wrong. They should be taught that it’s OK to say no if they feel uncomfortable about something.
You can start teaching children the basic safety rules from as early as three years of age. As well as these rules, it is also important to teach kids that can always talk to you. Encourage open communication and honesty. It’s important that a child knows they can always talk to their parents if anything at all is worrying them.
