As a parent, it’s essential to bestow your wisdom onto your children while also allowing them to glean knowledge through real-life experiences. The former is particularly important during their formative years. In the hopes of keeping your kin educated, safe, and out of harm’s way, it’s prudent to arm them with tips, tricks, and insight on how to navigate potentially dangerous situations. Here are some topics that every parent should discuss with their children.
Be Wary of Strangers
The thought of your child being alone with a stranger is a frightening prospect. It’s for this reason why you should encourage them to leave the doors locked at all times and not open the front door for anyone other than a familiar face. If someone comes to the door while you aren’t home, instruct them to remain quiet until the visitor leaves.
For added protection, consider installing security cameras to monitor the perimeter of your home. Not only will this give you peace of mind, but your kids can see who’s out front as well.
Drink in Moderation/When of Age
As kids blossom out of their adolescence, trouble invariably follows. Most teens, especially those verging on their college years, indulge in underage drinking and recreational drug use. One way to deter them from partaking in these illegal activities is to inform them of the health consequences of heavy drinking. These include the effects of alcohol on sleep and reduced cognitive ability. Others include ulcers, immune system dysfunction, accidents, and brain damage. There’s a fine line between fear mongering and educating, so it’s best to take a gentle approach when discussing these life-threatening dangers.
If your son or daughter is of driving age, make a point to talk to them about the dangers of drinking and driving. While they may not be old enough to legally buy alcohol, that doesn’t mean they won’t find a way to get some. Tell them the consequences of being caught intoxicated behind the wheel – in addition to any legal penalties they may incur. As a precaution, you can also install an ignition interlock device in their car to ensure they are not driving while under the influence.
Implement Boundaries
One boundary that kids have long despised are curfews. Curfews vary from family to family, so you’ll need to gauge your comfort levels before instituting time regulations. Some parents require their kids to be home before dusk while others want their children in the house by dinnertime.
Your 17-year-old will likely have a different curfew than your 10-year-old, so you may want to explain that the older you get, the more freedom you’re given. Whether you live in a rural or urban area will dictate the curfew as well.
Familiarize them with Emergency Contacts
Should an emergency arise, your children should know who to contact and in what order. Create a neat list of emergency contacts and keep it stored in a safe place in the house.
Some parents opt to give each child a copy, that way they always have it on hand. The idea is that they should become so familiar with the list that they won’t even have to consult it if disaster strikes. Ideally, they’ll be able to recall the first person on the list and know how to contact authorities.
Advise Against Going Into the Medicine Cabinet
Keeping medications out of arm’s reach is exceedingly vital if little ones are running around. In their eyes, a prescription drug may be as innocuous as tasty as candy. If they overdose, the outcome could be catastrophic.
It’s necessary that you stress the importance of staying out of the medicine cabinet. If your children are particularly curious, you may want to install a lock.
How to Handle Getting Lost
It’s not uncommon for kids to get turned around. Especially if they’re caught up in the moment and unfamiliar with the area. If your child loses their way, it’s crucial that they seek help immediately.
Under these circumstances, they should know that it’s acceptable to talk to strangers. If another family is nearby, that’s their safest bet. The parents or guardians will undoubtedly be willing to help and, in turn, calm your frightened kid.
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