Safety tips for home, school
THE BEST instructors to teach our children about their personal safety are the parents and their teachers, and it must happen EVERY day.
The golden rule we must tell and drill into our children’s daily routine is: never, ever, ever talk to or approach a stranger – even if they know your child’s name – and never go to a stranger (whether a man or a woman) if they call you. We as parents must listen to our children and know their activities and their habits.
Make sure you have the latest picture of your child, with all the child’s distinctive characteristics like eye colour, scars, birthmarks, etc, as this is most helpful if a child goes missing. Report to the police immediately when a child goes missing. At home:
● Never open the door for strangers if they are alone.
● Never engage in conversation with strangers when answering the phone.
● There must be a list of emergency numbers the child must phone in the event of an emergency; the parents' numbers must be top of the list.
● The child must be told not to allow any visitors into the house, even family, if the parents are not at home. In public:
● Never just drop off your children at a mall, arcade, park or friend’s home. Get out and escort them; do the same when you fetch them.
● Never leave a child alone in a vehicle – not even for a second.
● Never send any child on an errand, even if it is just next door.
● Tell your child every day not to accept any gifts like sweets or money or toys from strangers, even if the person looks kind and friendly. At school:
● Make sure that your child’s name is not visible on their clothing, backpacks, suit cases and lunch boxes, etc, as this practice can make a abductor or sex predator get to know your child on a “first-name” basis.
● Parents have to do a recce of the route their children take, especially on foot, and see if there are safety issues. If there are bushes, have the local councillor trim or cut them. See if you can set up a “buddy system” to and from school.
● Communicate with the school regarding safety measures when fetching your child: if you cannot personally fetch your child, identify your appointed proxy to the relevant teacher.
Communication on a daily basis between parents and children is vital, and children must be encouraged to address their concerns and issues without fear of rejection or reprisals.