Kids Safety Part 2
The first part of this article can be found here: Kids Safety
Try to be more positive, so that next time as well as saying “Don’t put that felt tip pen in your mouth”, make sure that you congratulate them on drawing a pretty picture and tidying up. “This means your warning message about the pen will stand out as important, but you wont sound like a constant nag,” say the Smiths’. “And there will be another important message there, too – that you can all have a good
time together.”
For each group: 0-2, 2-4, 4-10 and 10-14, Mike and Iona have sensible advise that you as a parent will come to rely on. They list all the dangers that a child is likely to face in each age group, and then explain how best to get the warning message across. Examples of those dangers include: 0-2 Years! Cot deaths, childhood diseases, accidents in the home, suffocation, burning and scalding, choking and poisoning.
2-5 Years! Stairs, in the garden (poisonous flowers and berries, dangerous substances in the shed, etc.), burns, windows, dangerous toys and games, playground accidents, swimming pools, on the road, getting lost, bullying, sexual abuse.
5-10 Years! Spare time and when they’re at a loose end, other children (children learn so many bad things for other children), crossing roads, bikes (and rollerblades, skateboards, etc), trespassing, water, smoking, soft porn, public lavatories (a boy’s mum cant go to the toilet with her son, but she should always be close at hand; and vise versa when dad’s out with daughter).
10-14 Years! Many of the previous dangers, plus staying out late, running away, alcohol abuse, solvent abuse, drugs. One very helpful section of the book deals with all the things a child really ought to know from birth to 10 years. Parents of school-age or older children who, after reading Mike and Iona’s book, feel guilty because they never tackled the problem right at the start of their child’s life, must not worry. “It’s never too late to work at truly communicating with your child and making his or her world as secure as possible,” they say. They also talk about the book’s title, how to save a child’s life.
“There IS so much you can do to protect your children and teach them about today’s world and today’s dangers.” Say the Smiths. Following their advise, you can give your children the best armor they can possibly have – knowledge. This way they will be protected, whether you are there or not.