Being a parent comes with many new challenges you may not have expected. Your child learns about all kinds of subjects in school, but you also must teach them more abstract concepts like safety. Read on to learn some tips for teaching your children how to be safe.
Who To Trust
A scary reality of being a parent is that not every adult or older kid will have your child’s best interests at heart. Some people wish to do them harm, and you won’t always be around to intervene. Because of this, you must teach your children about the authority figures they can trust to help them in spotty situations. You don’t want to instill in them the idea that every stranger is dangerous, but you should create some guidelines that can help them.
For example, imagine you’re at the grocery store with your child. If you get separated, and a stranger starts asking them uncomfortable questions, your child should know to go to an authority figure. In this instance, an authority figure would be someone working at the store, so you must teach them how to recognize the staff at different locations. Make sure they know that if they can’t find an employee, they should find you.
Outdoor Safety
One area of life where you’ll have to teach your children some unique safety rules is when they’re outside. The world is entirely different when they step out of the home or school, and you need to help prepare them. Texas specifically presents a lot of challenges because of the hot weather throughout the year. You must teach your children to stay hydrated, use sunscreen and bug spray, and keep an eye on hazards.
Whether your child is just walking around or near a pool, recognizing different hazards is important for staying safe. Hazards can be anything from a pipe in a pool to an open sewer grate, an oncoming car, a rattlesnake, a flying ball—you get the idea. Teaching them to always be observant is an excellent way for them to be safe when you’re not watching them.
How To Recognize Bullying
One of the hardest things you’ll have to teach your children is how to recognize and respond to bullying. In today’s world, bullying is not as blatantly obvious as it was before or as it’s depicted in movies and TV. This makes it even more difficult to recognize. Teach your child that, in addition to hitting and name-calling, bullying can be manipulation, lying, and threatening. Along with teaching them the signs, you should also teach them the importance of communication. Tell your child to be transparent about how the bully’s actions make them feel and that they should always tell their teacher if they feel they’re being bullied.
Teach your children how to be safe with these methods, and you’ll feel comfortable knowing that wherever they go, they know how to be safe. Of course, you’ll still feel the standard parental worries, but you can rest assured that you have taught them everything they need to know to stay safe in all situations.