The Easter holidays are around the corner, and parents are gearing up to keep their children safe while they enjoy a hard-earned break from school.
Charnel Hattingh, the group head of communications and marketing at Fidelity ADT, said to keep your children safe, you must have open communication.
“Talk to them about security concerns and teach them to identify potentially dangerous situations.
Encourage them to speak up if they feel uncomfortable or scared about any situation. Prepare to listen and act on their concerns,” she explained.
Also, always ensure that a responsible adult supervises your children.
“Plan activities that can be enjoyed as a family or ensure that your children are supervised by a trusted family member, friend, or caregiver.
This is important when visiting crowded public places such as parks or shopping centres, where your kids can easily become separated from you in the holiday crowds,” Hattingh advised.
Online safety is more important than ever in 2023.
With more time on their hands, children spend more time online during the holidays, and parents should monitor which websites and social media platforms their children use.
“Teach your children about the potential dangers of sharing personal information and interacting with strangers online.
A good rule of thumb is that, if your kids are on these platforms, they should only use them to chat with people they know in real life, like friends and family, and never with strangers,” said Hattingh.
She urges parents to consider the importance of having up-to-date identification information for their children.
If a child does become separated from their parents, having a recent photo and detailed information about the child can help authorities locate and reunite them with their family.
Parents should ensure their homes are secure and their children are aware of basic safety measures.
Here are some safety tips from Fidelity ADT that will come in handy during the Easter holidays:
• Make sure your children are in a safe, controlled environment while you’re at work, such as a trusted school after-care facility, in the care of a responsible caregiver or family member, or attending a reputable holiday club or school-organised camp.
• Teach your teenagers how to use your alarm system and press the panic button to familiarise themselves with the process in case of an emergency (call to warn ADT of the false alarm beforehand).
• Ensure all doors are locked, and easily accessible windows are closed if your children will be home alone. Instruct them not to allow anyone to enter the property without permission from you, no matter what they may say or who they claim to be.
• Child-proof your home, especially for toddlers and younger kids who may get bored and dig through the cupboards.
• Ensure your swimming pool is surrounded by a fence or covered with a safety net when you are not at the pool, especially if you have toddlers. Caregivers or family members should always keep a close eye on swimming children.
• Save emergency contact numbers on your kids’ phones and keep a printed list of the numbers close to hand, such as on your fridge or next to the landline. Also include the number of your local SAPS station and the numbers of neighbours who you trust.
• Teach your children to memorise their details, including their name and surname, home address, and contact details for either parent. Children as young as three get taught to memorise these contact details at crèche and daycare schools. Make sure yours know too.
• With smaller kids prone to wondering, you can write your name and phone number with a permanent marker on the child’s arm. Do this when going to places with crowds and a lot of traffic or where your children could easily get lost or lose sight of you.
Also Read: A safety guide to giving your child a first phone
Also Read: How to make multi-coloured eggs for Easter
