August Kids Safety Tips

Safety Tips for Kids

It's not enough for adults to know and understand the dangers that lurk around us.  We need to make sure our children know what to do in those situations.

 
Listen

When and if your child does disclose something to you, make sure you really listen, not only to what they're saying but how they say it. Watch for body language. Make sure your child understands that they are not to be touched in a way that makes them feel uncomfortable, and that they can always come to you if they are unsure of anything, even if family members are involved.

Answering the front door

When alone, a child should never answer the door. Even if it's a friend or relative of the family - if that person has arrived unexpectedly, it's better for the child to not let them in. Statistics show that abductors of children are usually someone the child already knows. Children also need to be taught that even though the parent is home, it's still important for the child to get the parent before answering the door.

Answering the Telephone

When children are alone at home they should not say that they are home alone. Teach your child to say that the parent is unavailable, to take a message, and then hang up. If the child receives any prank or obscene phone calls, he or she should tell the parent. Children should also be taught to never give out any personal information, no matter who is calling.

Around the home

When cooking, make sure you always turn your pot handles in so that they are not hanging over the side of the stove. Children can be badly burned if they grab hold of the handle and pull it down, or if they knock it off by accident. Never leave a cup of hot coffee or tea, knives or other sharp objects on a counter where a child can reach. Never leave cupboard doors or drawers open as fingers can get caught or shut in them.  Take a few minutes to walk through your home and look around for possible dangers that your children may be exposed to. It's good to do this often.

Teach your children how to dial 911

It's important to teach your children what to do when and if an emergency should arise. Teach them to call 911. Take a few minutes to explain the importance of calling 911. Go over what a 911 operator will ask, such as, what, where, why, when, and how. You can even pretend to make a few calls to help them feel more comfortable with this.

 
If your child gets lost

It's always good to know where your child is but sometimes that can be out of our control. Make sure that your child always has money for a phone call or have cell phones in case of emergency. Make sure that they know that they can call 911 if they get lost. Encourage them to always go with a "˜buddy' - there is safety in numbers. Explain to your children the importance of always telling you where they are going and for how long they will be gone.

 Safety Tips is an ongoing, public safety and awareness program presented by Seattle Tae Kwon Do. Please Check us out on the web at www.seattletaekwondo.com.