15 Ways to Safeguard Your Kids
March 14th 2008 02:16
Do Not Teach Violence:
Avoid responding to children with hostile words and actions. When kids ‘press your buttons’ try to respond to them as you would to a good friend. Speak to them with respect. If you feel close to losing control, declare your own ‘time out’. Then leave the room and cool down. Share your frustrations and coping tactics with other parents.
Tame the Television:
In addition to limiting kids’ TV time, choose and watch shows together; (tape for viewing later, is necessary.) Think out loud with your kids to brainstorm better solutions for dramatized violence and discuss its real-life consequences. For example: What would happen next? How would that person’s family feel? How would you feel? What could they have done to prevent this?
Know Your Kid’s Role Models:
Get to know your child’s teachers, Sunday school teacher, Boy Scout or Girl Scout leader, and parents of your child’s friends.
Observe your children’s Interactions:
Clearly define inappropriate behaviors like; insults, threats, and hitting. Encourage them to avoid others who behave this way.
Nix-Physical Aggression between Siblings:
Disagreements and arguing are normal and o.k. Offer and demonstrate constructive behaviors, like sharing and taking turns. Help kids argue better and build life long communication skills by utilizing “I feel statements”.
Teach Your Children to listen, by modeling the same behavior:.
Teach Your Children About Firearms
Ask about the presence of firearms in the homes your children visit. Arm your kids with the ground rules for any encounter with guns. Don’t touch, leave the scene immediately, and report to a responsible adult.
Review Bus Safety Rules With Your Child:
Stay 10 feet back from the street. No horseplay, running into the street, or moving toward the bus until it comes to a complete stop. For exiting the bus, use handrails. Avoid drawstrings on clothing or backpacks and long trailing scarves—anything that could get caught in the door or handle.
Teach Your Kids About Bullies:
Bullies target shy and loner children. Kids are notoriously reluctant to report bulling, (even to parents), because they feel humiliated and frightened. Try asking your child indirect questions about how they are spending their lunch periods or recesses, and they play with. Ask if there are any bullies in school or on the bus, without personalizing the question.
Teach Your Children About Safety Measures At Home:
Have a fire safety plan. Teach your child about household hazards
Teach Your Children About Stranger Danger:
Everyone that is not know to them is a stranger
Teach Your Children About Boudaries
Let kids know that if they "hear" the little voice that says "I am uncomfortable" tell then to honor it.
Get To Know Your Child’s Friends:
You need to know who your child is associating with . Does he or she share the same values as your family? Your child’s friends are role models and the influence can be positive or negative
Plan As Many Family Activities Together As Possible To Communicate With One Another:
Eat together as a family as often as possible. Attend community activities together. It is important that your child interacts with family members as a unit.
Be Involved, Show That You Care:
It is important that your attend PTA meetings, school meetings, and your child’s events.
Don’t Sweat The Small Stuff
Avoid responding to children with hostile words and actions. When kids ‘press your buttons’ try to respond to them as you would to a good friend. Speak to them with respect. If you feel close to losing control, declare your own ‘time out’. Then leave the room and cool down. Share your frustrations and coping tactics with other parents.
Tame the Television:
In addition to limiting kids’ TV time, choose and watch shows together; (tape for viewing later, is necessary.) Think out loud with your kids to brainstorm better solutions for dramatized violence and discuss its real-life consequences. For example: What would happen next? How would that person’s family feel? How would you feel? What could they have done to prevent this?
Know Your Kid’s Role Models:
Get to know your child’s teachers, Sunday school teacher, Boy Scout or Girl Scout leader, and parents of your child’s friends.
Observe your children’s Interactions:
Clearly define inappropriate behaviors like; insults, threats, and hitting. Encourage them to avoid others who behave this way.
Nix-Physical Aggression between Siblings:
Disagreements and arguing are normal and o.k. Offer and demonstrate constructive behaviors, like sharing and taking turns. Help kids argue better and build life long communication skills by utilizing “I feel statements”.
Teach Your Children to listen, by modeling the same behavior:.
Teach Your Children About Firearms
Ask about the presence of firearms in the homes your children visit. Arm your kids with the ground rules for any encounter with guns. Don’t touch, leave the scene immediately, and report to a responsible adult.
Review Bus Safety Rules With Your Child:
Teach Your Kids About Bullies:
Bullies target shy and loner children. Kids are notoriously reluctant to report bulling, (even to parents), because they feel humiliated and frightened. Try asking your child indirect questions about how they are spending their lunch periods or recesses, and they play with. Ask if there are any bullies in school or on the bus, without personalizing the question.
Teach Your Children About Safety Measures At Home:
Have a fire safety plan. Teach your child about household hazards
Teach Your Children About Stranger Danger:
Everyone that is not know to them is a stranger
Teach Your Children About Boudaries
Let kids know that if they "hear" the little voice that says "I am uncomfortable" tell then to honor it.
Get To Know Your Child’s Friends:
You need to know who your child is associating with . Does he or she share the same values as your family? Your child’s friends are role models and the influence can be positive or negative
Plan As Many Family Activities Together As Possible To Communicate With One Another:
Eat together as a family as often as possible. Attend community activities together. It is important that your child interacts with family members as a unit.
Be Involved, Show That You Care:
It is important that your attend PTA meetings, school meetings, and your child’s events.
Don’t Sweat The Small Stuff
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Comment by katyzzz
Photography Tips
MS Paint Art
No matter how well we do as parents some things will always go wrong, sadly.
But, in principle I agree with most of what you say.
Comment by Ash
Flashes of memories
wow this is an excellent set of points - I mean I`m not a parent but looking at it from a tadpoles point of view there is a lot in there that would make a heap of difference to a child`s POV when they enter the adult world
Ash
Comment by Miswanderlust
Killer Beats
Ramble On
Hipnotherapy
So True!
No matter how well we do as parents some things will always go wrong, sadly.
Mis
Comment by Miswanderlust
Killer Beats
Ramble On
Hipnotherapy
I am glad that you enjoyed the post. I wish that parents would remember to look at things from a tadpoles point of view.
Mis
Comment by Mrs M
Mum's Word
I feel really lucky at the school we're at. The mum's know each other and we know the kids and it's a good place.
As for the television, I often call for television free afternoons and after initial whinging is over, it's amazing the things my kids come up with to amuse themselves. Sometimes I think that they imaginations have no limitations....unlike mine.
You write great posts Mis.
Love & stuff
Mrs M
Comment by Miswanderlust
Killer Beats
Ramble On
Hipnotherapy
Thanks so much for your kind words. I am glad that you find these posts helpful.
You are indeed very lucky to have your children in an excellent school. I love the idea of television free afternoons! Brilliant!
So good to see you!
Mis