Protecting Your Children
Unfortunately, there is no way to be with our children 24 hours a day in order to protect them. Since we can’t protect them 100% of the time, the next best thing we can do is ready them to appropriately face challenges as they arise. Doing this helps them increase their awareness about the potential dangers that abound.
But how do you do that in a way that doesn’t make them anxious or afraid? You can begin by modeling behavior in your own daily life – staying calm, grateful, and informed each and every day, without letting that information unduly impact your activities. Even though the world can be scary, it is important to communicate the need for forward motion and to affirm their ability to become a positive force for positive change.
Stranger Readiness
Can your child determine:
- Who is a stranger?
- Are there safe people for me to turn to in a crisis?
- Am I really talking to who I think when I'm online?
- What information is safe to post online?
- If I get myself in a bad situation, what do I do next?
Red Cross Safety Tips
- Lock the doors, and if your house has a security system, learn how to turn it on.
- Do not open the door to strangers. Always check before opening the door for anyone. First look through a peephole or window. Make sure it is a safe person that your parents would want you to let inside.
- Never open the door to delivery people. Without opening the door, ask them to leave the package outside the door.
- On the phone, don’t tell anyone that your parents are not at home. Just tell them that your parent is not available to come to the phone. Offer to take a message. Keep paper and pencil by the phone.
- Do not talk about being home alone on social media websites. Do not share personal information via online chat. You may not be talking to the person that you think you are.
- Do not leave home without permission. If your parents let you go outside or to a friend’s house, call a parent before leaving, and again after you arrive at your destination.
- If you hear a concerning noise outside, call your parent or a trusted adult. Don’t go outside to see what it is.
- If you have an emergency, such as a fire, go to a predesignated neighbor’s house, and then call 911.
- Don’t invite friends over unless parents give you permission to do so.
- If you are allowed to have friends over, make sure you don’t allow them to pressure you into doing something that is against home rules.
A Reminder
This can be a bit overwhelming to children, but if the information can be presented in a straightforward manner, it can lessen their anxiety significantly!