| The turn of the century has seen the human | | | | children can be taught emergency |
| race step from the golden age of innocence | | | | resuscitation and who knows when it could |
| into a world of fear and violence. We live in | | | | save a life - yours even? Make sure they |
| an uncertain world nowadays where there seems | | | | understand not to play with lighters or |
| to be danger everywhere. Home invasions, | | | | matches. This may seem like common sense; |
| bombs, terrorism, predators... even catching | | | | it's not. Young children find flames quite |
| the subway seems fraught with danger. | | | | fascinating. Keep dangerous items like |
| | | | chemical and medicines out of reach or locked |
| So it's only natural if we feel less secure | | | | up. |
| than we used to and it's understandable that | | | | |
| we worry about our family, particularly our | | | | There's a lot of upsetting news on the TV |
| children. We worry about their vulnerability, | | | | these days. While most children take it in |
| how can we protect them? | | | | stride, some are upset and frightened by it. |
| | | | While it's not possible to totally restrict |
| Here are a few ideas, | | | | what your child watches or reads, be |
| | | | available to them if they want reassurance or |
| The best way is to make sure children | | | | have questions. |
| understand danger without frightening them. | | | | |
| Give them enough knowledge so they can handle | | | | Internet child safety |
| emergencies with confidence. Make sure they | | | | |
| know all their details; their full name, | | | | Children do need to have access to this |
| address and phone number, the emergency | | | | resource for educational purposes at least. |
| services' phone number (fire, police or | | | | There are filters you can buy which |
| ambulance). Arrange with a trusted neighbour | | | | (hopefully) will shield them from obvious |
| to have a "safe house" where they can go if | | | | pornography, but the predators are getting |
| you are out, or if they lose their key. | | | | clever. Here's a couple of examples of sites |
| | | | that look perfectly innocent but and Can you |
| Always make sure you know where they are at | | | | see the misspellings? |
| all times and tell them how to reach you if | | | | |
| necessary. Get to know your children's | | | | If possible keep an eye on what they're doing |
| friends and their parents if possible. It's a | | | | online. It's easier if the computer is not in |
| good idea for older children to have their | | | | the child's bedroom, but is set up where the |
| own mobile phone. To prevent large bills you | | | | family gathers so that they can take an |
| can restrict the usage. For example just | | | | interest in what their children access on the |
| allow calls to your home or mobile numbers. | | | | net. Watch out for chat rooms, you never know |
| | | | who's lurking behind the anonymity. |
| Stranger danger | | | | |
| | | | And finally try to relax! Children have been |
| Explain to your children that it's not a good | | | | born into this world as it is now. They will |
| idea to accept a ride with an adult they | | | | accept this as normal. Children will not have |
| don't know, however friendly they may seem. | | | | to make the quantum mind shift, as we older |
| Teach them what to do if someone tries to | | | | adults have had to do. |
| grab them or force them into a car - Shout, | | | | |
| kick and scream! Anything to attract | | | | The young children of today will become the |
| attention! | | | | well-adjusted adults of tomorrow. Love them, |
| | | | treat them with respect, look after them and |
| Child home safety | | | | they will survive and prosper. Trust their |
| | | | strength and trust your own judgement to |
| Teach children basic first aid. Even small | | | | raise them to be the best that they can be. |