Child Safety

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Friendly strangers can be dangerous strangers. Strangers who offer treats to children may be offering threats instead. Teach your children what a stranger is and how to react to anyone they don’t know well.

Play it safe

Child Swinging It is normal and natural for children to spend time playing out of the sight of trusted and caring adults. Keep trouble away from kids by teaching them to avoid areas and situations where trouble might lurk. Here are some basic “play it safe” rules for children.

Never play in deserted areas such as the woods, a parking lot, an alley, deserted buildings or construction sites.
Always stick to the same safe route to and from school or a friends house.
Always try to play or walk with friends. It’s safer and more fun!
Never play or “hang around” in such public areas as washrooms or elevators.
Try to wait with a friend for public transportation. Try to sit near the bus driver.
Always keep doors and windows locked when home alone.
Never show money in public. Carry money only if necessary and keep it in a pocket until it is needed.
Never hitchhike. NEVER!
Never walk or play alone outside at night.
Always tell a family member or other adults in charge where you’ll be at all times and what time you’ll be home.

Teach children how to respond

How children respond to trouble will depend on their age and the circumstances they encounter.

Teach children what to do and where to go when feeling threatened. Children should understand there are many people they can depend on and should turn to when they feel unsafe. Teach them law enforcement officers are friends whose job it is to protect them. NEVER use an officer as a threat, such as “if you don’t behave I’ll have a police officer arrest you.” This only teaches a child to fear law enforcement officers.

If an officer can’t be located easily, a child should also know to seek out a trusted teacher, a neighbor or a friend’s parent when frightened or feeling endangered. Children should know how to report trouble right away.

Teach children how to operate the telephone to call for assistance at an early age. They should know how to dial “911" for help. They should also memorize their area code and phone number, a friend’s phone number and your work number. Keep a list of emergency phone numbers near all the phones in your house.