Child Safety
Tips for Kids
Tips for Parents
Teaching Your Children About Safety
Sexual Predators
PARENT/CHILD SAFETY AGREEMENT
Tips on  the Net
Online Safety

SAFE KIDS ! - Safety Tips for Kids and Parents

TIPS FOR KIDS

  1. If your are in a public place -- for instance, a store, shopping mall, carnival, or amusement park -- and you get separated from you parents, don't wander around looking for them.  Quickly go to a checkout counter, the security office, or the lost and found and tell the person in charge that you have lost your mom and dad and need help in finding them.
  2. You should not get into a car or go anywhere with any person unless your parents have told you it is okay.
  3. If someone follows you on foot or in a car, stay away from him or her.  You don't need to go near the car to talk to the people inside.
  4. Grownups and other older people who need help should not be asking you for help; they should be asking older people.
  5. No one should be asking you for directions or to look for a "lost puppy" or telling you that your mother or father is in trouble and that he will take you to them.
  6. If someone tries to take you somewhere, quickly get away from them and yell or scream, "This man is trying to take me away" or "This person is not my father (or mother)".
  7. You should try to use the buddy system and never go places alone.
  8. Always ask your parents' permission to leave the yard or play area or to go into someone's home.
  9. No one should ask you to keep a special secret.  If he or she does, tell your parents or teacher.
  10. If someone wants to take your picture, tell your parents or teacher.
  11. No one should touch you in the parts of your body covered by a bathing suit, nor should you touch anyone else in those areas.  Your body is special and private.
  12. You have the right to say NO to someone who tries to take you somewhere, touches you, or makes you feel uncomfortable in any way.

TIPS FOR PARENTS

  1. Know where your children are at all times and be familiar with their friends and daily activities.
  2. Be sensitive to changes in your children's behavior; they are a signal that you should sit down and talk to your children about what caused the changes.
  3. Be alert to a teenager or adult who is paying an unusual amount of attention to your children or giving them inappropriate or expensive gifts.
  4. Teach you children to trust their own feelings, and assure them that they have the right to say NO to what they sense is wrong.
  5. Listen carefully to your children's fears, and be supportive in all your discussions with them.
  6. Teach your children that no one should approach them or touch them in a way that makes them feel uncomfortable.  If someone does, they should tell you immediately.
  7. Be careful about baby sitters and other persons who may provide substitute care for your children.
  8. Teach your children their full names, address, area code and phone number and that of a relative or friend.
  9. Teach your children how to use the telephone.  Let them make real long distance phone calls.  Teach your children how to dial "0" (or 911) and ask for help.
  10. Teach your children not to play in isolated areas and to use the "buddy system".
  11. Teach your children that adults should not be asking them for directions or to help find a "lost puppy".  If this happens, your child should not go near the person.
  12. Teach your children to yell "Help", not just scream.

(Reprinted with permission of Women in Safe Homes (WISH) of Ketchikan, Alaska)

Books to be read to or by kids for the prevention of child abuse are listed on our books page.

How A Sexual Predator gets to your child.   Common ploys used by sexual predators and something every parent should watch.  Used with permission from WiredSafety which is what used to be CyberAngels. 

PARENT/CHILD SAFETY AGREEMENT

This agreement should be discussed with each of your children.
To stress the importance of following safety guidelines, sign this document.
The rules can be modified as necessary.

Before I go anywhere, I will always check with my parents or the person in charge.
I will tell them where I am going, how I will get there, who will be going with me
and when I'll be back.

I will get permission from my parents before getting into a car or leaving with
anyone -- even someone I know. I will check with my parents first before changing
approved plans or accepting money, gifts or favors.

It is safer for me to be with other people when going places or playing outside. I
will always use the "buddy system, "

I can say no if someone tries to touch me in ways that make me feel frightened,
uncomfortable or confused. Then I will tell someone I trust what has happened.

I know it's not my fault if someone touches me in a way that is not right. I don't
have to keep secrets about these touches.

I trust my feelings and can talk to someone I trust about problems that are too big
for me to handle on my own. A lot of people love and care about me. They will listen
to me and believe me. I am not alone.

It is never too late to ask for help. I should keep asking until I get the help I need.

I am a special person and I deserve to feel safe.


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CHILD'S SIGNATURE

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Taken from the Community Resource Kit of 2003 - The Alaska Children's Trust

TIPS on the Net

 
A Parent-Child Contract for use of the internet by WiredSafety.

Online Safety

WiredSafety (Site formerly known as CyberAngels) is an all volunteer Internet safety organization founded in June of 1995.   This site has been greatly expanded over the years.  Here is just some of the information you can get there:  Parents Guide to Internet Safety, how to  protect kids from sexual predators on line, on-line safety aimed at Educators and Librarians and resources for Law Enforcement.  The list goes on and on of what you can find there. 

Internet Safety tips can be found on the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children website at Education and Resources.
 

If you find any links, or have your own information on how to keep our children safe, please share it with us...thank you.

  Send to ChildSafety Editor

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