As parents, we want to give our children the best of everything in life – education, nutrition, dresses, toys, living and of course we also want them to remain safe.
Safety in terms of accidents, food, diseases and injuries.
Although watching or protecting the child at every step or breath is neither possible nor advisable for his/her own development and confidence, still there are certain things we can do to ensure their overall safety.
We’ve put together some tips to keep your child healthy, happy and safe –
Safety from Child Abuse
- Children, especially pre-schoolers should be taught the concept of ‘strangers’. Parents should explain to them that they are not supposed to mingle and become friendly with anyone they themselves or their parents do not know.
- Teach them the difference between good touch – bad touch. This is extremely important for your child’s safety from physical assaults. Children should be educated in simple language about how certain body parts are private. Tell them the ‘Swimsuit Rule’, which means any part that is supposed to be covered by their swimsuit or undergarments is PRIVATE.
Safety from Accidents
- Stay close with young children when they are in a bath tub or in or around a swimming pool. Never leave hot water unattended in the presence of small children.
- Identify poisonous items such as pesticides, insecticides, medications and household cleaners and keep them out of reach of children. Detergents, perfume, mouthwash, paint thinner, mothballs, alcohol, gasoline etc. should be kept inside the cupboards or stored on the higher shelves.
Safety from Diseases
- Watch closely where and what your child is eating. Especially the street or raw food like pani puri, chaat, fresh juices and other food stuff that is being sold in the open. Food safety is very important to protect your child from several diseases. Typhoid, cholera, food poisoning, etc. are common water-borne diseases occurring due to stale or infected food items.
- Make sure they use mosquito-protection before going out. Dengue, malaria and chikungunya are caused by mosquito bites. These diseases can be easily prevented by using paediatrician certified mosquito repellents such as Goodknight Fabric Roll-On and Goodknight Patches. These products are not only safe for kids since they are made using 100% natural ingredients but are also highly effective in keeping the disease-causing mosquitoes away for up to 8 hours after the application. These are easy to apply, as they need to be applied on clothes.
Safety from Injuries
7. Falling in the playground is a common cause of injury among children. Make sure that the surface is soft and made of appropriate materials such as wood chips or sand, not pebbles or cement.
- Make sure that your child wears protective gear such as helmets and knee/elbow guards during sports and recreational activities.
Safety from Cyber Crime
- Instruct your child to never give out any personal information such as real name, home address or telephone number to anyone they don’t know on social media or in online chat rooms.
- Monitor your child’s internet usage. Consider installing parental control software which will give you complete control over how and what kids are accessing on the internet.
IMPORTANT:
Keep these phone numbers in an easy-to-locate place –
- Emergency medical services (nearest hospital)
- Fire Department
- Police Department
- Child’s doctor
- Parent’s work and cell phones
- Neighbours and relatives
Some Quick, GUD Tips –
- Teach them self defence
- Make them memorise phone numbers (mother’s, father’s and one local relative/family friend’s number)
- Encourage them to share whatever happened in school or during playtime with friends
- Teach them to observe their surroundings and be careful and vigilant in lonely areas like parking or basements
Parents and caregivers are responsible for building a safe and loving environment for their children. It’s better to start the conversation about the basic safety measures with your kids early in their life.