Summer Safety Tips for Children and Teens
Tip #1: Children and Teens Shouldn’t talk to strangers
It is important to always remind your children and teenagers to never talk to anyone they don’t know. Recently their have been too many kidnappings and child adductions. Let your children and teens know that if someone suspicious that they don’t know comes up to them they should immediately either run away if they are alone or go somewhere where there are other people. Another important thing to tell your children and teens are to never go into a vehicle with a stranger. If someone tries to force them into a car tell your child they should run away to a public place for help, or start screaming loudly.
Tip #2: Water Safety
In the summer time all children and teens love going into the water to swim. Whether it’s the beach, pool, lake, or river all children should be aware of water safety. All children should learn how to swim, but if they don’t they should never be in the water alone. Children or teens that don’t know how to swim should stay in the shallow end of the water. Children and teens should also always swim at places that have life guards. This way if something were to happen they would have someone there to help them. When it comes to pool safety small children should always be accompanied by adults. For parents who own pools in their homes they should be aware that children can get into trouble when they aren’t looking. Make sure that when the pool isn’t being used there is a cover over it or a gate that children can’t get into with an adult.
Tip #3: Monitor your children’s computer use
During the summer time Children and youth’s have a lot more free time to use the internet and computer. The internet can be a fun and educational tool for children and youths but it also can be a dangerous one as well. This comes back to the part that children and youth’s should never talk to strangers. When youth are on the internet they may go on chat website where they have no idea who they are talking to. Some things that you can do to make sure you’re child or teen is safe is to block certain websites on you’re computer or get child monitoring software.
Tip #4: Tell your child or teen never to be alone when going out
Your children and teens probably will want to go to summer camp, vacation trips with friends or teams, and other outings. Tell your child or teen to always stay with a group when they are out.
Tip #5: Educate Your Child or Teen about drug and alcohol use
Children and Teens sometimes get peer pressured into experimenting with drugs and alcohol at a young age. Summer time gives children and teens more time to associate with friends that may offer those drugs or alcohol. Remember to tell your teen the consequences of illegal drug use and underage drinking and the health effects they have on their body. You can also encourage your children to talk to you about these kind of issues so they know they don’t have to hide them.
