CHAPTER ONE

Teaching children about safety is at least as important as teaching them how to read. We can't assume they'll learn about safety at school or on TV or from other kids. Each day's news tells us how UNsafe the world of children is becoming; we must all take a hand in helping our kids protect themselves. Begin by making kids aware of the dangers that exist in the world today. We do them no favors by protecting them from ugly realities.

One thing we all learned in school was the value of DRILL: use this method with your children so that they are not only aware of safety plans and procedures that affect their homes, neighborhoods, and communities, but also know how to respond in an unsafe situation. The most important drill we can teach them is "what to do if...". Teach your children to look out for each other and to know how to get help when you're not around. Every child should know their own phone number and address, and that of a near neighbor who can be on call in an emergency.

Our children need to know how to defend themselves. One good tip is to teach them to scream loud and long is a stranger tries to lure them into a vehicle or lead them away. Another good tip, of course, is not to
talk to strangers or take anything 

from them at all. Teach them how to run: to a neighbor's house, to the nearest convenience store or gas station; to wherever help or shelter can be found.

Check out child self-defense courses that are offered through school or public service organizations. If none are offered, why not start the ball rolling for child self-defense training in your community?

Don't give a child more responsibility than he or she can handle. Some kids are ready to hit the sidewalks on their new bike by the time they are six; others are not. Each child is different, even in the same family. Check out the toys your children play with to insure they are safe. Sadly enough, the laws covering the safety of toys and recreational equipment for children are very vague, so the burden of safety is on the adults who purchase them. Small parts, sharp things, breakable things, swallowable things - all these should be off limits.

The best safety advice for parents of children - of ALL ages - is: Know who your child's friends are; know where they play. Meet their parents; get their phone numbers. Establish check-in procedures. "Where are you going? What are you doing? Who will you be with?" are the most important questions you can ask.