As we get closer to the start of 2022, now is a good time to start talking about safety. Whether your little ones are preschoolers or about to embark on college, opening the lines of communication now is important.
But where do you begin and what topics should you cover? Here are eight tips for starting your children’s new year off safely.
1. Discuss Family Emergency Plans
If you haven’t already, make sure to discuss family emergency plans with your kids. Include things like what to do if there’s a severe storm, fires, and even if a stranger breaks into the house. Even knowing where to get a flashlight during a power outage is important.
Be sure to cover elements that include how to recite their address and a contact phone number for adults. Talk about calling 9-1-1 or using a smart device like Siri or Alexa to reach emergency services.
Part of keeping your family safe is prior planning. Even if you have had this conversation in the past, now is a good time to revisit the concepts.
2. Monitor Your Child’s Tech Usage
As any modern parent will tell you, tech usage is a big deal these days. With so many connected devices, it can be difficult to try to keep up with what your children are up to online.
Thankfully, there are plenty of parental control apps and software programs that make setting limits simple. On iOS tablets, the Screen Time feature allows you to block certain games and other programs remotely from your own phone. And Google has made several updates to their parental control programs for Android devices.
You can even opt for a cell phone for kids that doesn’t have any access to the internet. Instead, your child can still make calls and use the camera app, but there’s no texting, games, or web access.
3. Talk About Stranger Danger
Additionally, you’ll want to have a discussion about stranger danger with your child—but with a modern twist. These days, kids are less likely to run into someone meaning harm physically. Instead, it is the virtual conversations and discussions that pose a greater risk.
Communicate with your children about why it can be harmful to have conversations with random people online, including both voice and text chat. Teach them to trust their intuition and leave a game or app if they don’t feel comfortable, but to tell an adult afterward.
While monitoring your family’s internet usage is important, there are times when they’ll come into contact with those outside your household or their circle of friends. By giving them the right tools, they can make good decisions.
4. Teach Them How to Safely Cross the Street
As parents, it is our job to give our kids the skills necessary for life out in the world. One of those tasks that a lot of people forget about these days is the ability to safely cross the street.
Start by practicing in your neighborhood where traffic is lessened. After a few times of understanding the importance of looking both ways before crossing, take a family walk to a nearby intersection.
Work on crossing at the crosswalk together, including using the signal and pressing the button while waiting. Again, the goal in keeping your child safe this year is to give them safety skills before they actually need them.
5. Discuss What to Do in an Emergency at School
It’s terrible that this even has to be a note on this list, but an increase in school violence means it is important to discuss what to do in an emergency. Use honest and reassuring language, but explain what they should do if they witness a fight or someone has a gun in the classroom.
Most likely, this is something your local district has already started teaching as a safety precaution. But following up with additional parental guidance about how to lock doors, keep quiet, and take cover is important.
Likewise, be sure to talk about what to do when the danger has passed. Help younger ones memorize your cell phone number to get in contact, know how to follow teacher instructions, etc.
6. Sign Them Up Swim Lessons
While it might just sound like a fun activity, signing your child up for formal swim lessons could be a lifesaver. After all, you never know when they’ll find themselves in even the smallest body of water and need to get out.
Where do you find these classes? Most local YMCA branches offer low-cost swimming lessons for families. And you can always check local pools, aquatics centers, and Salvation Army posts.
Thousands of children are injured or killed each year in drowning or near-drowning incidents. Protect your kids by teaching them what to do in the water before they’re at risk.
7. Create a Non-Negotiable Helmet Rule
Did Santa bring a new bicycle or scooter for Christmas? Now is a great time to create a non-negotiable helmet rule.
What this means is that they understand that there is absolutely no riding these items unless they are wearing a helmet. Even the simplest of falls can result in a head injury or other physical trauma, making it important that your kids never go without one.
You should also help them to find one that fits well and is comfortable. If your child wears glasses, ensure that the helmet fits comfortably around earpieces, too.
8. Emphasize the Dangers of Texting and Driving to Teens
Of course, your child might be a bit older and already on the road. In that case, you’ll want to help them develop good habits by emphasizing the dangers of texting while driving.
Explain what can happen when their attention isn’t on the road and that distracted driving can cost them their life. If necessary, there are several great YouTube videos with tips that include teens who were in serious accidents while texting and driving.
Have your child sign a contract that outlines any consequences for this kind of risky behavior and stick to it together.
Wrap Up: Family Safety in the New Year
Keeping your children safe this year doesn’t have to be difficult. With a bit of planning and tons of open communication, 2022 can be healthy and happy for the whole family.
