Back to School Safety Tips

The close of summer means the new school year is upon us. Parents are checking supply lists, buying school clothes and waking their kids up early to get them back into the school day routine. Before you think all the preparation is finished, stop and think about school safety. Take steps to ensure your child stays safe during school and traveling to and from school. Here are five ways you can take a proactive approach to keeping your children safe from danger

Getting to school safely

The best way to prevent mishaps on the way to school is staying involved. Every school day, more than twenty million children ride buses that get them to and from school safely. Keep your children safe at the bus top by making sure an adult is there to make sure they get on and off the bus safely.  If your child walks to school or rides a bike, make sure that she understands street safety rules and wears protective gear. Again, an adult should always accompany children walking to school and stay in front until they are safely inside.

Strangers

In today’s world, everyone isn’t nice. Teach your children never to talk to strangers and never take anything from a stranger. Predators approach children at the bus stop or playground to abduct or offer sweets containing drugs. Teach your children how to react when approached by a stranger. Tell them to scream, yell and run away if they feel threatened. It’s a good idea to practice different scenarios at home to reinforce their response to danger.

Playground safety

Playgrounds can be perilous when children don’t learn to play safely. The CDC reports that more than 200,000 emergency room visits happen each year from playground related incidents. Teach your kids to play safely without pushing or shoving that can lead to falls.

Playground safety is an area where parents need to be proactive. Visit the school and inspect the play areas. Schools are obligated to make sure the equipment is safe, well maintained and free of sharp edges. The ground must be covered with wood chips or some other impact absorbing material to lessen the risk of harm from falls. Concerned parents staying actively engaged with the school system helps keep your children safer at recess.

Disaster safety

You may not want to think about disasters, bad weather or even an attack by someone crazy with a gun. The sad fact is, all of these things have happened and will happen again. Teach your child what he or she should do in case of a disaster event. Find out their schools emergency plan and make sure your child knows exactly where to go and what to do in a bad situation. Being prepared ensures the children react promptly and with less fear when a tornado or some other disaster strikes.

Empower your child against bullying

There have always been people who enjoy attacking those they deem weaker than themselves. Teaching kids to deal with bullying without resorting to violence can be a challenge. Confidence and strength go a long way towards disarming schoolyard bullies. Getting your children actively involved in athletics builds confidence, physical strength and character. Gymnastics, martial arts or some other physical activity combined with your words empowers your child against bullying. Explain how to resist a bully without fighting and make sure your child reports any bullying he or she encounters.

Your children deserve a safe and happy school experience. Stay involved, talk to your kids and you’ll give them to tools they need to stay safe at school.