As children move out of the toddler stage, their mobility around the house increases—which means that for a few moments, they could be out of sight from a parent or caretaker. How can you teach these young minds basic safety rules to remember when they’re at home?
Use simple phrases, repeated frequently, which encourage a pattern of safe behavior.
Here are six examples to get you started!
“Don’t open outside doors without me.”
A curious young child may be tempted to run toward the doorbell whenever it rings, or head for the garage when you’re going on a trip. Tell them to wait and check with a parent before they put their hand on the doorknob. This can help teach them not to open the door to strangers, go into a garage alone, or leave a door open for burglars or wild animals.
“Watch out for water.”
A young child may be capable of turning on a faucet to wash their hands, but turning on their own bath water should never be done without an adult’s supervision. Make sure he or she checks with you before they touch the tub faucets. The same rule should apply to outdoor spigots as well; in the summertime, children love to play kiddie pools, and they should be supervised when they’re filling the pool with water.
“Ask before you eat.”
Kids love their snacks, but teach them to ask before they open or unwrap anything they want to eat. The recent proliferation of accidental laundry pod consumption is a good reason for parents to be diligent about teaching basic poison warnings to their children. Keep medicines and cleaning supplies locked away with one of the child safety lock products available on the market. Another technique to use is to label non-consumable liquids with a giant red “STOP” sticker (or any red sticker you teach your child to recognize.) If the child sees the sticker, they’ll know that the package is not safe to eat.
“If it lights up, ask Mommy (or Daddy.)”
Child-proofing around electrical outlets is a given for parents of toddlers, but what happens when your son or daughter is old enough to plug in appliances or toys on their own? Teach them how to safely insert a plug into an outlet, but make sure they also let you know when they’re powering up their electronic toys.
“Stop, drop, and roll.”
This tried-and-true phrase is still the best way to teach children how to react if their clothes catch on fire. Practice it with them as part of your family fire drill (read EMC Security’s tips on how to do a family fire drill) and make sure he or she understands that standing too close to a heat source, such as a fireplace, can cause their clothes to catch on fire.
“Ask before you pet the puppy (or kitty, or other pet.)”
Before someone brings a dog or other animal into your home, teach your child the basics of approaching pets, even ones that they know. Make sure the animal is calm and under control, and learn the signs that indicate that Fido or Fluffy is open to some petting. If the animal is sleeping, eating, or engaged with another pet, tell the child to wait until the pet is finished before they approach them.
What’s the best tool to keep an eye on young children in your home?
A home security system allows you to monitor all the goings-on in your home via a computer or mobile device. It also provides monitoring for intrusion or fires from an outside source, and can help your family get to safety.
EMC Security offers the latest technology to help you arm and disarm your system from your smart phone, control door locks, and view live video of your children or pets, starting at only $16.95 per month. Our experts can visit your home and provide a free safety analysis, and then our technicians can install the equipment and teach your entire family how to use it. Our monitoring center is located in Suwanee, Georgia; we’re dedicated to earning the business of our neighbors and friends in the metro Atlanta, area!
If you’d like to learn more, give us a call at 770-963-0305.
