| The security and safety of our children has become | | | | bear gifts. This can be hard to change, but you can |
| increasingly important in our society. Responsible | | | | start with some simple security measures. |
| parents and communities have always been aware of | | | | Some basics that will go a long way in ensuring |
| the dangers to children, and I think it is fair to say that | | | | security |
| communities have done the best they could to try and | | | | 1. Make sure you child knows their own full name, and |
| ensure that children were protected as much as | | | | all the names of their parents and siblings. If in another |
| possible. | | | | culture, make sure they know these names in the |
| But nowadays technology can reach our children in the | | | | different languages.roof and tie it to their clothing, (a |
| home, at school and in public places, in fact almost | | | | good place is in the pocket) to avoid it getting lost. |
| anywhere. Predatory crimes are increasing and | | | | 3. Give your child a mobile phone and/or phone card. |
| children not only face enticement through the Internet, | | | | Make sure that this phone has all the emergency |
| but also at school and by peer pressure, there are far | | | | contacts on speed dial. |
| more dangers presented to the children of today. | | | | 4. Teach your child to use the phone properly, be |
| One way that we can prepare, and arm children with | | | | confident with it, and know the best possible way to |
| the necessary knowledge and awareness, is to make | | | | make descriptions of where they could be and what |
| security a habit. Security should be more than a term; it | | | | the problem may be. Practice this often. |
| should be integrated into the way we raise our children, | | | | 5. Have your child's name in the collar of the clothing |
| and be part of their lives, just like learning to read and | | | | and pockets. |
| write. | | | | 6. Teach your child about home security, when to |
| Teach your child simple security risk management just | | | | answer the door, how to answer the door securely, |
| as you would teach them the alphabet. Think how | | | | and what to watch out for when answering the door. |
| much more at ease you would feel, and how much | | | | 7. Tell them what they should watch for when playing |
| safer your child could be as they grow into adulthood. | | | | in the street or in parks with friends. |
| It is not fear that you would be instilling, but rather | | | | 8. Teach them phone answering rules for the home. |
| confidence, and the ability to weigh up a situation and | | | | For example, not to give your address out, their name |
| manage it with the correct course of action. | | | | or your names, or give any information to anyone that |
| Breaches of security, children going missing and | | | | they do not know. They should know to ask you to |
| accidents are all caused by trusting strangers. | | | | deal with all such issues. |
| 'Stranger Danger' as it was first called, is still very | | | | 9. Teach them that accepting gifts, food, drink from |
| relevant and should be taught to children at an early | | | | anyone but close family is strictly not allowed, unless |
| age so that it is embedded into a child's way of | | | | you give the OK. |
| thinking. | | | | 10. Make sure that your child always lets you know |
| However, in saying this, it is natural for children to trust | | | | where they are, who they are playing with, and if they |
| other people, especially friendly adults, and adults that | | | | are leaving the front gate. |