How to Successfully Keep Children Safe in the US?

Kids are amazing. They are curious, exuberant, and full of energy; tiny beings just discovering how to navigate the big bad world around them and taking joy in the sounds of their own voices. They are a force of nature unto themselves. We love them to bits, of course, but protecting and nurturing them is tricky at best. They are a handful and even then, it is like juggling 20 balls at once.

It falls to you as a parent, caregiver, or teacher to ensure that they are protected and thriving. It is not an easy task. In fact, more than 9000 kids in the US between the ages of 1-19 died because of unintentional injuries.

It is a huge responsibility and while in ye old days, there were several family members present to raise children, today we have small nuclear families, and it falls on the parents or guardians to cover all bases to keep children safe.

You must take utmost care of them during journeys, from seatbelts to getting in and out of vehicles. Teach them safe road practices.  Supervise them closely when at beaches, pools, or even bathtubs. Never leave young children alone in such places. Given their octane energy levels and childish disregard of danger, they are very prone to knocking into things and are in danger of concussions so always be vigilant. Never leave any medicines lying around as kids have an unfortunate tendency to put objects in their mouths. The consequences could be deadly. You must perceive every possible area of danger. Any small object, even something as innocuous as buttons can be fatal. All windows should be areas of caution. In a moment of carelessness, kids could fall out of the window or balcony. The dangers out-of-doors are obvious. Kids run a risk of falling while running, walking, crossing roads, skating, or riding a bicycle. And these are only a few of the dangerous things.

Click here to know the road safety tips for school children

There are other dangers that can destroy a child’s life. It is imperative to teach children, even the very young ones, about boundaries where their bodies are concerned. Teach them that offline or online, it is important to say no at the slightest feeling of discomfort. Children may have been intimidated or emotionally blackmailed into keeping silent so keep watch for any indicators of abuse, like behavioral changes, becoming withdrawn, anger control problems anxiety, loss of appetite, and depression.

Have open conversations with them about sex so that gain an understanding of what is appropriate and what is not. Build trust that you will listen to their problems instead of judging them harshly.

Children grow up so fast and in no time, they are in their teens. They are at the cusp of adulthood but still children in a way and inexperienced with the ways of the world. Most teens are rebellious, and they can potentially get into dangerous situations because of their self-perceived maturity and sense of invincibility. For example, they might try to learn how to drive a car by themselves and end up in a crash. How do you protect someone who does not think they need protection? Strike a balance between being firm about your rules and being a friend. Let them know that you are there for them without treating them like small children and causing them to rebel. Nurture an understanding of their world. It is not the same as yours.

Click here to know the role of technology in school bus safety

Today’s parents have a brand-new set of challenges added to the age-old ones. Yes, it is to do with that big scary word, the Internet. Parents of this generation still remember a time when the internet was not a thing, and it is natural to be intimidated by the unknown. Do consider that though the internet brings its own dangers it also brings solutions for both new and old problems. Here are a few basic guidelines to protect the young.

Checkpoints on the internet era to keep children safe

Smartphone or Smart Without Phone?

This is a conundrum many parents face. Should children be given smartphones or not? Smartphones are not evil by nature. It is simply a means to stay connected to the world and gain a wider perspective. There is no doubt that having the internet is an essential tool for children to build themselves and achieve their dreams. They do not corrupt your children. It is the content you need to worry about. Thankfully, our technology enables us to use parental controls in smartphones to limit the type of content that your child watches and review their social media practices.

Internet usage and FOMO

There is no doubt that using the internet is addictive. It is frankly mind-boggling that so much information is made available to us. Does that make it a bad thing? Not necessarily. Anything done in excess is dangerous, so it is crucial to use the internet in moderation. Banning kids from using the internet is not the best option. It can cause feelings of resentment and lead the child to try other methods to access the internet instead of one that is supervised by you. Just ensure that you lay down rules like a particular time for internet access and non-usage of phones during mealtimes.

Click here to understand the effect of transportation on the quality of education

Cyberbullying

Harassing people on digital platforms is called cyberbullying. It is also aptly known as online bullying. Cyberbullying is every bit as traumatic as real-life bullying. Internet access has become such a staple that people, especially teenagers, are more vulnerable than ever. The internet is, however, here to stay, and cyberbullying can be nipped dealt with by educating people on how to identify cyberbullying, which includes act like sending harassment texts, using someone’s phone to send inappropriate messages, threatening someone, hacking social media profiles, identity theft and spreading secrets and rumors about people. Be especially vigilant with apps and sites with end-to-end encryption that enable video chats, file uploads, and user anonymity, which are frequently relied upon by online child predators.

School Bus Travel

Traveling to school and back home can be dangerous too if you are not careful. Kids can have accidents like vehicle crashes, slipping while climbing the bus, running across roads, bus breakdowns, errant drivers disregarding road safety rules, lack of traffic control, and more. Thankfully, you can protect your child by using a school bus tracking app that tells you the exact location of the school bus in real-time, displays ETA, sends live updates, records the moment of entry/exit, prevents drunk drivers from taking the wheel, and ensures that your kid enters the right bus.

Be ever vigilant and harness technology to fight anything that threatens the safety and well-being of your child.