As the Easter Holidays are fast approaching, parents have been given some tips to help keep their children safe as they will be enjoying their first term school holidays as well.
The tips have been compiled by security company Fidelity ADT – with the hopes that children will have secure and enjoyable holidays.
The company’s Group Head of Communication and Marketing Charnel Hattingh said safety is paramount during this time of the year.
Also read: Back to school safety tips
“As parents, we know that safety is your top priority. That’s why we are here to offer some valuable tips to ensure your children have a secure and enjoyable first-term school holiday.
“Open communication with your children is one of the most important things you can do to keep them safe.
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“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 in any situation.
“You should be prepared to listen and act on their concerns,” said Hattingh.
She added that parents should also supervise their children as this is also a key aspect to ensure safety.
This can also be done by planning activities that can be enjoyed together as a family or ensuring that children are supervised by a trusted family member, friend, or caregiver.
This is vital when visiting crowded public places such as parks or shopping centers, where children can easily become separated from their parents or guardian in the holiday crowds.
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 operate your alarm system and press the panic button to familiarise themselves with the process in case of an emergency.
• Ensure that all doors are locked, and easily accessible windows are closed if your children are going to 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 go digging through the cupboards.
• Ensure swimming pools are sealed off when you’re not by the pool, especially if you have toddlers, with a fence and safety net. Caregivers or family members should always keep a close eye on any swimming children.
• Save important emergency contact numbers on your kids’ phones and keep a printed list of these numbers close, such as on your fridge or next to the landline, including those of your local SAPS station and numbers of neighbours who you trust.
• Teach your children to memorize their details, including their name and surname, home address, and contact details for either parent. Children as young as 3 and 4 years old are taught to memorize these contact details at creche and day-care schools. Make sure yours know too.
• With smaller kids who are prone to wondering, you can even write your name and phone number with a permanent marker on the child’s arm when you’re out and about with the kids at places with big throngs of holiday crowds and a lot of traffic, or where your children could get easily get lost or lose sight of you.
According to Hattingh – online safety is also an important aspect to look into.
“With more time on their hands, children may be spending more time online during the break, and parents should ensure that they monitor which websites and social media platforms their children are using.
“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 be using them to chat with people they know in real life, like friends and family, and never with strangers,” said Hattingh.
