How Do I Teach My Child About Personal
Safety?
By Nancy McBride, National Safety Director
Many parents and guardians feel challenged to keep their children safer
in our fast-paced and global society. They may wonder at what age they
can begin teaching their children about personal safety.
Unfortunately, “one size” doesn’t fit all. A child’s
ability to understand safety skills and put them into practice is determined
not just by age, but also by the child’s educational and developmental
levels.To truly learn new safety skills, children need to model, rehearse
and practice the skills to incorporate them into their daily lives.
- Speak to your child in a calm and reassuring way. Fear is not an
effective teaching tool; confidence is.
- Speak openly about safety issues. If you approach child safety openly,
your children will be more likely to come to you with problems or concerns.
- Don’t confuse children by warning against “strangers.” Danger
to children is much greater from someone you or they know than from
a “stranger.”
- Teach children that no one has the right to force, trick, or pressure
them into doing things they don’t want to do.
- Practice safety skills by creating “what if” scenarios.
An outing to a mall or the park can serve as a chance for children
to practice safety skills, such as checking with you before they go
anywhere or do anything, and locating adults who can help if they need
assistance.
- Supervise your children. It is vital to their protection and safety.
Children should not be put in the position of making safety choices
if they are not old enough or skilled enough to make those choices.
- Check out adults who have access to your children. The more involved
you are in your child’s life, the less likely it is that your
child will seek attention from other, potentially dangerous adults.
Simple Rules for Children When They Need Help
The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) has
a signature safety publication, Knowing
My Rules for Safety, to
help parents and guardians teach personal safety skills to children.
The rules are simple and concise and provide encouragement and options
for children who need an adult’s help.
Copyright © 2006 National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
(NCMEC). All rights reserved. |
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