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