ATA Offers General Tips for Parents and Guardians

to Help Keep Their Children Safer

      

While many parents and guardians feel they are faced with new and unprecedented challenges when trying to keep their children safer in today’s fast-paced and increasingly global society, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children offers these common-sense, general safety tips to help parents and guardians put these challenges into perspective.  Parents and guardians should choose opportunities or “teachable” moments to reinforce safety skills.  If an incident occurs in your community, and your children ask about it, speak frankly but with reassurance.  Explain to your children that you want to discuss the safety rules with the, so they will know what to do if they are ever confronted with a difficult situation.  Make sure you have “safety nets” in place, so your children know there is always someone who can help them. 

       

1. Make sure you know where your children are at all times.  Know your children’s friends and make clear with your children about the places and homes they may visit.  Make it a rule for your children to check in with you when they arrive or depart from a particular location and when there is a change in plans.  You should also let them know when you’re running late or if your plans have changed so they can see the rule is for safety purposes and not being used to “check up” on them.

       

2. Never leave children unattended in an automobile, whether it’s running or not.  Children should never be left unsupervised or allowed to spend time alone or with others in automobiles, as the potential dangers to their safety outweigh any perceived convenience or “fun.”  Remind children to never hitchhike, approach a car or engage in a conversation with anyone within a car they do not know and trust, or go anywhere with anyone without getting your permission first.

       

3. Be involved in your children’s activities.  As an active participant, you’ll have a better opportunity to observe how the adults in charge interact with your children.  If you are concerned about anyone’s behavior, take it up with the sponsoring organization.

       

4. Listen to your children.  Pay attention if they tell you they don’t want to be with someone or go somewhere.  This may be an indication of more than a personality conflict or lack of interest in the activity or event.

       

We are offering FREE Child Safety, Child Abduction Awareness seminars in the (insert city) area.  This program is being offered absolutely FREE to families that are interested  and have children ages 4-16 years old.  These seminars will share safety tips, techniques, and strategies. 

       

Classes are limited in size and will be filled on a first-come basis.  Please call Master Boswell’s Martial Arts  at 662-890-4500 and make plans now to attend.

Are Your Children “KID SMART?”

ATA Tips for Going to and From School More Safely

       

Every day millions of children take to the streets and roadways to get to and from school.  They walk, ride their bicycles, take buses, and arrive in automobiles with one purpose-getting to and from school safely.  Every year approximately 440,000 public school buses travel more than 4 billion miles to transport 24 million children to and from school and school-related activities.  For many children, this experience is a new one , and they many not understand the safety rules.  Young children do not have the same frame of reference for safety as adults do.  They many not “look before they leap,” which is why it is so important for families to supervise young children and practice safety sills with their older children.  The tips noted below will help prepare your children for a safer journey.

       

1. Instruct your child to always TAKE A FRIEND when walking or riding his or her bike to and from school.  It’s safer and more fun to be with your friends.  Walk and ride in well-lit areas, and never take shortcuts.  When walking and biking, stay aware or your surroundings and observe all traffic rules in place to more safely share the roads and sidewalks with others.

       

2. Even though there is safety in numbers, it is still not safe for young children to walk to and from school especially if they must take isolated routes before or during daylight.  Always provide supervision for your young children to ensure their safe arrival to and from school.

       

3. Your child should stay with a group while waiting at the bus stop.  If anyone bothers your child while going to and from school, you should teach him or her to get away from that person, and TELL you or another trusted adult.  If an adult approaches your child for help or directions, remember that grownups needing help should not ask children fro help; they should ask adults.

       

4. Instruct your children that if someone they don’t know or feel comfortable with offers a ride, say NO.  Children should never hitchhike or accept a ride from someone unless you have told them it is okay.

       

       

We are offering FREE Child Safety, Child Abduction Awareness seminars in the (insert city) area.  This program is being offered absolutely FREE to families that are interested  and have children ages 4-16 years old.  These seminars will share safety tips, techniques, and strategies. 

       

Classes are limited in size and will be filled on a first-come basis.  Please call Master Boswell’s Martial Arts  at 662-890-4500 and make plans now to attend.

Know the Rules….

Safety Tips for Children

      

1. Always TAKE A FRIEND with you when playing or going somewhere.  It’s safer and more fun.

       

2. Always CHECK FIRST with your parents, guardians or trusted adult in charge before you go anywhere or do anything.

       

3. Don’t be tricked by people who offer you special treats or gifts.  Never accept anything from anyone without your parents’ or guardians’ permission.

       

4. Never go into a public restroom by yourself.

       

5. Stay SAFER when you’re home alone by keeping the door locked; not opening the door for or talking to anyone who stops by unless the person is a trusted family friend or relative, you feel comfortable being alone with person, and the visit has been pre-approved by your parents or guardian; and never telling anyone who calls that you are home by yourself.  Have a neighbor or trusted adult you can call if you feel scared, uncomfortable or confused or if there is an emergency.

       

6. Don’t wear clothes or carry items wit your name on the outside, and don’t be confused just because a person you don’t know calls out your name.

       

7. Be careful when you play.  Stay away from pools, canals, and other bodies of water unless you are with a trusted adult.  Don’t play near busy streets, or deserted areas, and never take short cuts unless you have your parents’ or guardians’ permission.

       

8. Never go alone to malls, movies, video arcades, or parks.  Take a friend with you, and always CHECK FIRST with your parents or guardians to make sure it’s okay.

       

9. Don’t panic if you feel lost.  Identify the safest place to go or person to ask for help in reuniting with your parents or guardians.  Safe helper could be a uniformed law-enforcement or security officer, store salesperson with a nametag, person with a nametag who is working at the information booth, or a mother with children.  Never search fro your parents or guardians on your own, and never go with anyone who is trying to reunite you with them.

       

10. Don’t get into a vehicle or go near a vehicle with anyone in it unless you are with your parents, guardians, or a trusted adult.  Never take a ride from anyone without CHECKING FIRST with your parents or guardians.

       

11. Be careful playing or riding your bicycle, as it gets dark.  Sometimes it is difficult for people driving to see you.  Wear reflectors and protective clothing if your parents or guardians say you can play outside after dark.

       

12. Don’t be afraid to say NO and GET AWAY from any situation that makes you feel scared, uncomfortable, or confused.  TRUST YOUR FEELINGS and be sure to TELL a trusted adult if anything happens to make you feel this way.

       

       

We are offering FREE Child Safety, Child Abduction Awareness seminars in the (insert city) area.  This program is being offered absolutely FREE to families that are interested  and have children ages  4-16 years old.  These seminars will share safety tips, techniques, and strategies. 

       

Classes are limited in size and will be filled on a first-come basis.  Please Master Boswell’s Martial Arts  at 662-890-4500 and make plans now to attend.

Important Tips for Parents and Guardians

to Help Keep Their Children Safer

       

While many parents and guardians feel they are faced with new and unprecedented challenges when trying to keep their children safer in today’s fast paced and increasingly global society, ATA offers these common-sense, general safety tips to help parents and guardians put these challenges into perspective.

       

1. Practice basic safety skills with your children.  Make an outing to a mall or park a “teachable” experience in which your children can practice checking with you, using pay telephones, going to the restroom with a friend, and locating the adults who can help if they need assistance.  Remember, allowing your children to wear clothing or carry items in public on which their name is displayed can bring about unwelcome attention from inappropriate people who may be looking for a way to start a conversation with your children. 

       

2. Notice when anyone shows one or all of your children a great deal of attention or begins giving them gifts.  Take the time to talk to your children about the person and find out why the person is acting this way.

       

3. Be sensitive to any changes in your child’s behavior or attitude.  Encourage open communication and learn how to be an active listener.  Look and listen for small cues and clues that something may be troubling your children, because children are not always comfortable disclosing disturbing event or feelings.  This may be because they are concerned about your reaction to their problems.  If your children do confide problems to you, strive to remain calm, non-critical and non-judgmental.  Listen compassionately to their concern, and work with them to get the help they need to resolve the problem.

       

4. Be sure to screen babysitters and caregivers.  Many states now have a public registry that allows parents and guardians to check out individuals for prior criminal records and sex offenses.  Check out references with other families who have used the caregiver or babysitter.  Once you have chosen the caregiver, drop in unexpectedly to see how your children are doing.  Ask your children how the experience with the caregiver was, and listen carefully to the responses.

       

5. Teach your children they have the right to say NO to any unwelcome, uncomfortable, or confusing touch or action by others and to get out of those situations as quickly as possible.  If avoidance is not an option, children should be taught to kick, scream and resist.  When in such a situation, teach them to loudly yell that the person is not a parent/guardian and then immediately tell you if this happens.  Reassure them you’re there to help and id is okay to tell you anything.

       

6. Remember there is no substitute for your attention and supervision.  Being available and taking time to really know and listen to your children helps build feelings of safety and security.

       

We are offering FREE Child Safety, Child Abduction Awareness seminars in the (insert city) area.  This program is being offered absolutely FREE to families that are interested  and have children ages 4-16 years old.  These seminars will share safety tips, techniques, and strategies. 

       

Classes are limited in size and will be filled on a first-come basis.  Please Master Boswell’s Martial Arts  at 662-890-4500 and make plans now to attend.

ATA Offers Questions and Answers on Child Safety

      

What are the most important things parents and guardians should tell their children about this issue?

       

·        Children should always check first with you or a trusted adult before they go anywhere, accept anything, or get into a car with anyone.  This applies to older children as well.

·        Children should not go out alone and should always take a friend with them when they go places or play outside.

·        It’s okay to say no if someone tries to touch them or treats them in a way that makes them feel scared, uncomfortable, or confused and to get out of the situation as quickly as possible.

·        Children need to know they can tell you or a trusted adult if they feel scared, uncomfortable or confused.

·        Children need to know there will always be someone to help them, and they have the right to be safe.

       

What are the most important things parents and guardians should know when talking to their children about this issue?

      

·        Speak openly about safety issues.  Children will be less likely to come to you if the issue is enshrouded by secrecy.  If they feel you are comfortable discussing the subject matter, they may be more forthcoming to you.

·        When you speak to your children, do so in a calm, non-threatening manner.  Children do not need to be frightened to get the point across.  Fear can actually work at cross-purposes to the safety message, because fear can be paralyzing to a child.

·        Don’t forget your older children.  Children 11-17 are actually at risk for victimization.  At the same time you are giving your older children more freedom, make sure they understand the important safety rules as well.

·        Do not confuse children wit the concept of “strangers.”  Children do not have the same understanding of who a stranger is as an adult might.  The “stranger-danger” message is not effective; a danger to children is much greater from someone you or they know than from a “stranger.”

·        Practice what you talk about.  You may think your children understand your message, but until they can incorporate it into their daily lives, it may not be clearly understood.  Find opportunities to practice “what if” scenarios.

·        Teach your children it is more important to get out of a threatening situation than it is to be polite.  They also need to know it is okay to tell you what happened, and they won’t be a tattletale.

       

What is the biggest myth surrounding this issue?

      

The biggest myth is that the dangers to children come only from strangers.  In the majority of cases, the perpetrator is someone the parents/guardians or child knows, and that person may be in a position of trust or responsibility to the family.

       

What advice would you offer parents or guardians who wanted to talk to their children about this issue?

       

Parents and guardians should choose opportunities or “teachable” moments to reinforce safety skills.  If an incident occurs in your community, and your children ask you about it, speak frankly with reassurance.  Explain to your children that you want  to discuss the safety rules with them, so they will know what to do if they are ever confronted with a difficult situation.  Make sure you have “safety nets” in place, so your children know there is always someone who can help.

       

We are offering FREE Child Safety, Child Abduction Awareness seminars in the (insert city) area.  This program is being offered absolutely FREE to families that are interested  and have children ages 4-16 years old.  These seminars will share safety tips, techniques, and strategies. 

       

Classes are limited in size and will be filled on a first-come basis.  Please call Master Boswell’s Martial Arts  at 662-890-4500 and make plans now to attend.