With danger nowadays lurking at many corners, just advising your children now to talk to strangers is not enough. With the increase in school violence, Parents have now become more vigilant when it comes to safety. Children too are developing anxiety and a sense of fear.
The first step parents should talk about is to talk to their child about school safety. Recognizing the threats that they could face at their schools will play an important role in easing their anxiety, fear and preventing acts of violence. After all, children spend more of their time in school than anywhere else other than their homes.
Ways To Make Your Child Feel Safe While Going To School
What used to be an innocent fun-filled experience, is not the case in the life of children today. They are at a continual threat of facing dangers from their route to the school to facing bullying. Teachers, parents, and associations are constantly looking for ways to improve to curb these issues. As a parent, you too can adopt specific ways to make their experience more valuable.
Starting At Home
Talking to children and making them understand the different situations and consequences that may affect them negatively is a good way to start. Your child is more prepared mentally and incases of trauma will be able to handle it better rather than when taken by surprise. This will also motivate them to talk to you if they feel something is not right in their school.
Promoting self-defense classes too can help them build confidence to face many dangers and allow them to protect themselves. Giving them a tracking device and bulletproof backpack insert can make them feel safe. By preparing and being actively involved in your child’s safety not only can you prevent them from some dangerous situation they might wind up in but also help them to take responsibility for their welfare courageously.
Safe Commute to Schools
Danger anticipation should be done in a place where a child is exposed. Mapping out a safe route for your child when they walk or take a bus to school is important. By doing a trial run yourself, you can help map a route that avoids dangerous or busy intersections and avoiding vacant spaces or sites where there are fewer people. Teach children how to follow traffic rules when they are walking or crossing the road. Ensure they have correct safety gear if they are going to bike to school.
Encourage them to be in groups when waiting for a bus or to be picked up. Teaching your children not only to talk to strangers but also to report to you or the authorities if they face a constant approach from a stranger is vital.
Bus Safety Rules
Accidents due to buses too are common. Make sure your child knows the correct bus and bus driver and ask them to refrain from entering a vehicle that is not known to them. Hitchhiking too can be dangerous if they fall into the wrong hands. Following correct bus stop rules, by standing in the designated area, not standing behind the bus in case it’s going to reverse, and not playing the parking zone should be informed.
School buses are commonplace where bullying can take place where children are not under supervision. Encourage them to report to you if they feel any other students, teacher, or bus staff is being rude to them or hurting them.
Safety In Classroom
Classroom safety is equally important as being safe outside. Students need to develop a relationship with the teacher where they feel safe. They learn better and can coordinate their efforts more in studying. Overly strict or abusive teachers can initiate rebellious behavior in children.
Make it a habit to ask your children how their day at school went. Not all children find it easy to confide in if something is not right. Look for warning signs like if the child has started being too quiet or their grades are falling. You can also speak to parents who have their children in a similar classroom to see if they notice any dangerous behavior.
Guide Them With Good Advice
Teaching your child how to face any such situation is important. If your child resolves to fight, you can explain to them that they could end up hurting someone or earning a bad reputation. Give them solutions that will be non-intrusive so they can try to solve it by themselves. If the problem is not solved, you may have to intervene on your child’s behalf.