Tips to keep your children safe during the holidays

For kids, the year-end school holiday is a welcome break, but for some parents – who have to work throughout – it can be a stressful period of constantly wondering whether their children are safe.

Security company ADT offers these basic, practical safety precautions for parents to share with their children, regardless of whether they are left with a caregiver, domestic staff or stay at home by themselves.

• Teach children to keep entry and exit doors locked, and that nobody is to enter the property without your permission.

• If you have a home security system installed, teach them how to activate and de-activate it and how and when to use other security devices like panic buttons.

• Have a list of emergency contacts – including the 10111 number – near the telephone and explain to children when and how it must be used.

• If you allow the children to walk to a friend in the neighbourhood, walk the route with them before they try it on their own. Tell them to let you know when they are leaving and when they arrive. Explain that it is better to walk a slightly longer route down familiar streets where there is more activity, than taking short-cuts across fields or deserted areas.

• There’s a good chance that kids will be watching TV or going online, so make sure that your parental control settings are on and privacy settings are as high as possible. Make sure they understand that they should never post any personal information – like an address, email address or mobile number, online. Teach them that if they see something online that makes them feel uncomfortable, unsafe or worried, they should leave the website, turn off their computer and tell someone immediately.

Do you perhaps have more information pertaining to this story? Email us at randfonteinherald@caxton.co.za (remember to include your contact details) or phone us on 011 693 3671.

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