Back to School Safety Tips for Kids

The summer is coming to an end and Back to School will begin soon. During this lovely season, many families rush around trying to get the best deals on clothing, school supplies and anything else they can. Older kids go away to college and three year olds begin pre-school. No matter the age, all kids need to be reminded or taught simple safety precautions. I have come up with a list of ten good safety tips for any children, of any age, returning to school this fall.

Be careful what you as parents put in your child's school lunch. During the end of the summer crazies, many parents will opt to put in the child's favorite sandwich and forget about the blazing sun. Many schools are not enclosed and the lunches hang outside the classrooms, with their matching backpacks, in full view of the hot sun. This is not good for the mayonnaise in the egg or chicken salad sandwiches. Be watchful of what spoilable foods you place in their lunches. You don't want to pick up Junior on his first day of school from the nurses office!

If your child takes the bus to school, practice a few days in advance what should be done in emergency situations. Remind them that there are no seatbelts on buses and that they always need to remain in their seats. If they get scared, or it is their first time, have them talk to the bus driver and get to know them; especially if they will be the regular driver. Many school bus drivers care about their passengers, but if your child feels uncomfortable around their new one, find out why. If they are verbally abusive, report them as soon as possible! Riding to school should be enjoyable, not fearful.

If your child rides their bicycle to school, remind them of the rules of the road. Practice their hand signals for stopping and turning. Also remind them to not have their mp3 or ipods on the loudest volume while they ride. They need to hear the traffic or they could get hurt. Also remind them to wear their helmets. Flat hair is better than a busted skull.

Remind your children, that no matter how old they are, they need to pay attention when crossing all streets. This includes simple neighborhood ones all the way up to busy intersections. They might say that is easy, and that they can just listen for the cars while they text their friends, but that is wrong! A few years ago, that might have been a standard, but now that we are in the age of the hybrid cars that is not true anymore. The new hybrids, especially the Toyota Prius, are almost silent. Have you ever been near one? I have and they can sneak up on you. If you child still fights you on it, take them to a local dealership and ask for a test drive or for the salesman to start it up so the child can hear it for herself!

Talk to your child and see if he has made any enemies over summer vacation, or if any new kids in the neighborhood are rapidly becoming bullies. Instruct your child to not respond to the bullies in inappropriate ways and to report them to the school. Also educate your child on gangs and gang activity. If you fear you are in an area that gangs heavily influence young children, teach your child the warning signs and make sure they know where they can be safe.

Many children are starting new grades in new schools with all new friends. Remind them that being popular is not always best for them; that other kids might try to introduce drugs to them, and how to properly respond to the offers. Encourage them to join a team sport, band or even clubs to keep them positive.

On that note, keep an eye on your child's behavior. One way of keeping them safe is to keep a lookout on their attitude and mood swings. Children of all ages deal with anxiety and depression when going back to school. They feel that they cannot keep up with the others, and instead of trying, or reaching out to a counselor, they fall further and further behind. Talk to your school counselors and ask them the warning signs for your child's age group.

Get to know their friends. Even under protest from them, it is best if you have all of their phone numbers and parent's names. You never know anymore what can happen two minutes after they arrive at their sanctuary. They are supposed to be safe from harm while they are spending eight hours learning their ABC's, but theses days horrific things can happen. No one wants to think it could be their child or children, but it could be and be prepared.

Make a plan. If, for some reason, something bad were to happen, you will need a way to connect with your children. Yes, many areas have cell phone service, but not all areas have signal and many kids don't have a cell phone. My son is going into the third grade, and he does not have a cell phone. I have all the contact information of the school, and their emergency plans and evacuation maps as well. The best safety is being prepared.

I hope even one of these tips will help you and your child, or children, stay safe. Back to school season is overwhelming and many safety precautions and lessons are quickly forgotten because of the excitement of the new clothes, school and friends.

Source:

Personal experience.