Child Protection

Basic Safety

● Children should be aware of their full name, address, phone number, area code, and city and state.

● They should know to call 911 for help and how to use a phone.

● Teach them not to talk to strangers or get into a vehicle with someone they do not know, even if that person says they know their parents and were sent to pick them up.

● They should not accept anything from strangers when a trusted adult is not present.

● They should be accompanied by an adult when out of the house.

● Teach them that no one has the right to touch them in a way that makes them uncomfortable, not even someone they know. Let them know that they can say "no" in these situations.

● Teach them that if they become lost at a mall, store, or street, they should go to a store clerk, security guard, or police officer for assistance.

● Show them secure locations in your community where they can go in an emergency, such as a dependable neighbor's home.

● Look around your community for hazards to children's safety, such as overgrown bushes, wooded areas, and dim illumination.

School Safety

● Ensure they travel safely to and from schools, stores, and friend's homes.

● They should be alert when walking home, continuously checking their surroundings.

● Teach them to travel the same route home from school every time.

● Encourage them to play and walk with friends rather than by themselves.

● Inform them to avoid potentially risky areas such as wooded areas, alleys, new construction, and unoccupied buildings. They should never talk to strangers on their way home or tell them where they live.

● As soon as they get home from school, they should check in with a parent or a neighbor they can trust. Someone should be aware of it if they are remaining late for school.

● Their fears and sentiments regarding persons or places that terrify or unnerve them should be carefully listened to by parents. Tell them to believe their gut feelings. Take bullying concerns seriously. 

● Argument resolution through conversation rather than physical violence should be taught to them.

Sexual Abuse Prevention

● Always be aware of their whereabouts and who they are with.

● Inform them to avoid interacting with people they don't know who spend time around playgrounds, public restrooms, and schools.

● If they don't want to, don't make them kiss, embrace, or sit on someone's lap. This teaches them that it's OK to say no.

● Tell them they can tell you anything and that you'll listen to them.

 ● Every day, have a conversation with them and take the time to listen and watch.

● Find as much information as possible on the actions and emotions they express.

● Encourage them to talk to you about their worries and issues.

● Teach them that no one, not even teachers or close family members, has the right to touch them in an unsettling way. Refusing, leaving, and telling a parent or other responsible adult is acceptable.

● Be on the lookout for behavioral changes in your child that can indicate sexual abuse, such as abrupt secrecy, withdrawal from activities, reluctance to attend school, surprising hatred toward a beloved nanny or family member, or constant worry.

● Bedwetting, loss of appetite, nightmares, venereal disease, and complaints of discomfort or irritation in the genitalia are a few physical indicators of abuse.