How to Teach Kids About Personal Safety Without Scaring Them
As a parent or carer, you have the responsibility of teaching your child the skills that will keep them safe in the world. This can be a challenging task for any parent, especially when you want to maintain the innocence and playfulness of your child for as long as possible. Here are some simple ways to teach children the dangers of the world without causing them anxiety.
Start early
It’s easy to underestimate how much young children can understand, but they are constantly learning about the world around them. Teaching concepts like street safety alongside basic household rules like no shoes on the carpet will make them instinctive to your child. The more frequently you say things, the higher chance of them taking it in.
Relate consequences to things they have experienced
You can compare potential dangers to negative experiences your child has already had. If your child has experienced the pain of touching hot food, remind them how that felt when teaching them about the dangers of other hot things. Most children will understand being poorly, so germs and allergies can be explained this way.
Do not oversimplify their education
While it may be your instinct to shield your child from the uncomfortable parts of the world, oversimplifying or underplaying grown-up concepts can sometimes be detrimental to your child. One common example of this is parents teaching children euphemistic language for their bodies, making it harder for the child to report inappropriate touching. Using accurate scientific language helps them to interact with the world around them safely and clearly, even when you aren’t there to guide them.
Be their safe place
If children are afraid of getting into trouble, they are more likely to hide their mistakes from you. Instead, teach them that you are on their side and will help them overcome difficulties, no matter what actions have led them there or how embarrassed they may feel. Discourage them from dangerous behaviour through explaining real-world consequences rather than punishment.
Role-play
Children learn through play, so role-playing potentially difficult scenarios allows them to practice in a safe environment. Stranger danger, peer pressure and emergency contacts can all be taught through imaginative dialogue with your child. This allows you to teach them serious topics without taking them out of the world of play.
Encourage your child to talk through fears
Fear is a normal emotion for children to feel, especially when faced with new or challenging concepts. Expressing these emotions to an adult can help rationalise these thoughts and clear up any misunderstanding your child may have. This will also help you to understand what your child fears most, allowing you to be most cautious when approaching these topics.
Report crime anonymously
Help to keep our communities safe by reporting crime. You can report crime without sharing your identity by calling 800-8477 or using the Crime Stoppers Bermuda online form. Information about crime will be shared with the police without identifying details.
Report crime online or via 800-8477.
