GUEST POST
When you have children, safety rules and planning is one of the most important things that you will ever teach your child. Children should know how to be safe around dangerous areas of the home and what to do in the case of an emergency. With the right planning, you can ensure that your child knows what to do and how to behave in any situation.
What to Know
The age of your child will impact how you create and share a safety plan. Very young children, such as those under the age of three, may not fully understand what they are supposed to do in an emergency situation. Because it is difficult for babies and toddlers to remember the rules for safety, the best decision is to provide supervision. Older children, and even some toddlers, can be taught some basic safety rules that are helpful in a dangerous situation. For example, teaching a baby or toddler how to swim to the edge of the pool in case they have accidentally fallen in is a lifesaving technique.
Preparing for Dangerous Situations
You can go over your family safety plan with your children from a young age. Young children will need to hear the plans and what to do in an emergency repetitively before they can remember the details of the plan. Talk to your children often about where to go in the event of a fire, for example, at least once a month until you are sure that they remember the plan in detail. Create a family meeting place outside the home where everyone will be after evacuating the home. You should also practice safety drills regularly to ensure everyone in the home knows what to do.
Teaching Safe Play
Your child should also know which areas of the home are safe to play in, and which require the help of an adult. Family pools are one area where it is important to have an adult present. Take a toddler or baby swimming class like SwimJim to teach even the youngest children how to get to a safe place if they have fallen into the pool without an adult present. You will also want to make sure that there is proper fencing in place around the pool, along with a self-latching gate to keep children away from the pool when you aren’t available. With planning and frequent practicing, even young children will be prepared for dealing with a potentially dangerous situation that can happen when children are playing.
