Back to School Safety Tips

5 Great Back to school safety tips

With everything else going on this fall, safety and accident prevention often get short shrift. But you can put safety first by focusing on these five back to school safety tips which focus on the most important areas of your child’s life when away from your immediate care.

Basic safety knowledge. Be sure your children know their home phone (or at least one cell phone) number, their home address, and how to dial 911. These basics can help in any emergency and can function as a barometer of your child’s capacity for more information on safety.
Safe travel to and from school. Whether by car, by bus or on foot, your child’s trip to and from school is the first area to focus on. Make sure you review the walking route, bus stop rules, traffic laws, and hazards they may encounter.
Safety at school. Equip yourself and your child with his school’s safety rules, notification policies, and the knowledge necessary to report a problem such as bullying, peer pressure or other safety hazard. Every school has an emergency procedure.
Computer safety. Never has knowing what to keep private or how to do so been more important. Sharing personal information, numbers, or basic facts about habits and preferences is dangerous. Have a frank discussion with your older children about their computer use and safety practices. If they’re old enough to have access, they’re old enough to listen to your concerns.
Safety after school. Make a list together with your child about what to do when they get home. Have an emergency contact nearby they can call or go to, a backup plan in case the key gets lost, and a strict list of who may come over and under what circumstances. Your child should report to an adult as soon as she arrives home. Role-play is an important way to learn what’s safe and what isn’t when home alone. John Walsh, creator and host of “America’s Most Wanted,” helped develop Safe Side Kids DVD, suitable for preschoolers on up. It helps kids navigate the nuances of looking out for danger – without feeling like they’re being rude in a highly entertaining way.