As a school, we continually reinforce the message about feeling safe in school and how to keep safe outside of school. There are many systems in school including the Mood Box, peer mentors and wearing identification. Working alongside with you the parents, we can ensure that our children are as safe as possible outside school as well.
Statistics show that crime against young children by strangers is extremely rare. Even so, as parents, these seven tips can help protect your child:
- tell your child to avoid talking to people they do not know when you are not around
- make sure your child knows never to walk away with strangers
- make sure your child understands that they should always tell you if a stranger approaches, and never to keep this secret
- if your child is travelling alone, tell them to sit near other families on the train or bus
- if your child has to use a lift – tell them only to use lifts with friends, and not to feel worried about getting out if they are uncomfortable about someone else being in there
- if your child gets lost, they should ask for help from a police officer, a uniformed person, another grown-up with children or someone in a nearby shop
- have your children learn their address and telephone number by heart
It is a difficult balance of giving children practical awareness against causing any unnecessary anxiety. So it has to be delivered according to the maturity of the child and in the most positive way possible. For example we have fire, evacuation and lockdown procedures in school (as does every school) and we complete this practice in a positive and calm atmosphere. Parenting is tricky and so you will know how best to ensure your child can develop these strategies and you can help ensure that they know what to do in a difficult situation or if they ever get lost.