It’s a sad affair to see the near-constant news about the violence and loss that impacts families these days—both from within and without. It seems we can’t refresh a news website or turn on the television without updates on the latest school or public shooting, hearing about child kidnappings, or other tragedies. It all hits far too close to home.
It’s enough to make any worried parent want to padlock the doors and bunker down with the kids until something drastically changes in the world.
But the reality is, the world isn’t going to shape up just for our sakes. It’s up to you, the parent, to help your child stay safe without locking them away from reality.
Here a 5 ways you can help your children remain as safe as possible, despite these troubled times:
- Educate Them! – Your kids will only be able to positively respond to threatening situations if they understand the best ways to do so. Sit down and clearly talk through potential unsafe circumstances, and how they should respond—such as never getting in cars with strangers and which authorities they should seek out if they are ever separated from you.
- Equip Them – Give your kids the tools they need to draw protective attention to themselves if they ever feel threatened. This could include a whistle for use in public areas, or even a child-enabled cell phone, which only allows them to call pre-determined numbers (like yours, or an emergency contact).
- Hold Community Safety Events – Get other families in your area involved in child safety efforts. This way, those other kids that your children interact with will also understand the importance of safety awareness and be less likely to accidentally draw your kids into risky situations.
- Form a Safety Network – Partner up with other parents, either in your neighborhood or through your school. Share news and safety tips, and be available for each other should kids need backup transportation or a safe place to stay if an emergency comes up that disrupts your usual routine.
- Keep Things Positive – Yes, some might consider the world a scary place, full of threats that lurk around every corner. But if that’s how you teach your kids to view every situation, they’re going to be frightened and uncertain all the time, instead of feeling confident and ready to handle possible threats to their safety.
What helps you and your kids feel safe on a daily basis? We encourage you to take an honest look at your safety preparedness plans and see if you’ve allowed for your kids to have an active role should a dangerous situation ever arise!
