10 Basic Safety Rules Every Child Should Know

Basic safety rules every child should know

There are basic safety rules that children of all ages and developmental stages can learn. Here is a short list of the 10 basic safety rules every child should know, to help parents guide their children to be safe and aware of their surroundings.

Safety rules

1. Teach them their last name

Children need to be able to give their last name and spell it in case of an emergency. If they are lost, or if for some terrible reason a parent becomes unconscious, giving their last name will be useful to authorities.

2. Don't talk to strangers

This goes beyond just the concept of “stranger danger.” Teach your children that at no time they should go anywhere with anyone, without their parent or guardian. Teach them them even if someone offers them candy, or asks them to help them find a lost puppy, they must ask their parents before they do anything or go anywhere.

3. What to do if you get lost

Kids should stop where they are an not go searching for a parent. They also need to look for “helpers” and “parents” i.e people who work there or moms or dads with kids and tell them they are lost. If you child is old enough you should tell them to not go anywhere with anyone and tell whoever is helping them that they are supposed to stay where they are until their mom or dad comes back. With that said, everyone has a cell phone these days. Which comes the next recommendation – for all children to know their parents phone number.

4. Know your phone number (and address for older kids)

Routine and repetition are the key to this. Practice daily. Or give them a bracelet like this one if there is any possibility that they will get separated. These adorable wrist bands are super easy to use and very practical to put on your child if going anywhere with crowds or on field trips.

5. Your body is yours only

Teaching your children about good touch and bad touch can help them determine when someone has behaved inappropriately with them. Explain that nobody other than parents and doctors should ever touch their body. If someone does, they should loudly shout for help. This should be an open and ongoing discussion with your child as they grow. At every appointment I have with my patients, before I do an exam “under the underpants” I say to the child – I am going to check down there. Remember, nobody looks down there except doctors and nurses when mommy/daddy are in the room.

6. Don't keep secrets

Kids are sometimes told to keep something a secret by siblings or friends. Children should be told that if they are told someone that is dangerous or really naughty, that it is ok to tell a parent or someone in charge. Children should never be afraid to tell you anything and let them know that you will not get mad or angry no matter what they tell you.

7. Basic water safety

Children should be taught to never, ever 1) enter any body of water without seeing a parent and 2) asking if it is ok to go in. Even at 12, 10 and 7, my children still wait outside of the pool and wait to get in until given the OK by an adult. Read this post for more information on keep your kids safe in the water.

8. How to call 911

In this day and age of cell phones, many homes don’t have a landline. Parents need to determine the best way for children to call 911 in their home based on what is available. For example if you have an Amazon Alexa, it cannot call 911 directly, but can call phone numbers in your contact list, including emergency contacts or use add-on apps to activate emergency-related skills like Ask My Buddy or SOS Family. We leave our home address on the bulletin board right by the phone so that they can give the address if they need to call 911.

9. Do not open the door for strangers

Kids should be taught to never open the front door. Although, this gets tricky when neighbor kids start coming over and asking if they can play. Depending on your child’s age, it is best to tell them to never open the front door. It is also easier now with ring doorbells to see who is there, and that is helpful for home security and for parents to also see who might be at the door even if they aren’t in the same room as their child.

10. Do not eat anything given to you by a stranger

This concept might be harder for little kids to understand, since they might consider parents of friends “strangers.” Overall, best to teach them not to eat anything unless they ask a parent first.

Stay safe friends!

You got this!