Oh, that first day of school is one of those milestones in life that can be super exciting yet quite unnerving as thoughts about your child’s safety naturally creep into your mind. Here are some practical ways parents can ensure their children are safe- both physically and emotionally during their school day. You can play an instrumental role in your child’s protection by arming them with the right information and engaging the school community. Following are a number of tips to help you gain more confidence as your child embarks on one of life’s most vital journeys.
Teach Your Child Basic Safety Rules
The first method of ensuring your child’s safety is through education. They need to be educated on simple safety rules that can be applied both while at school and when traveling to or from school. This will include things like not talking to strangers, knowing their home address and telephone number, and how to react if they get a feeling that they may be in danger.
Also very significant will be the revision of some of the key safety procedures with him or her; for example, what to do if a fire drill or lockdown happens to be enacted at school. Instruct him or her on how to keep calm and follow instructions during such situations.
Open Communication
The best communication is the key to making sure your child stays safe. Always check in with your child to understand how they feel about school. Let them know it’s okay to come and talk to you about their day at school or anything experienced, be it a concern or something that has made them uncomfortable. With openness in communication, the safer a child will feel in coming to you if something is not right.
Know What’s Happening at School
It’s a matter of knowing the school’s safety policies. Schools have a procedure for any kind of danger – a fire, an intruder, a hurricane. If you don’t receive a copy of the school safety plan, request one from your child’s school. You’ll want to make sure your child knows the procedures, too.
Schools have bullying policies, policies for playground supervision, and drop-off and pick-up processes. Keep your child informed about these as well as any questions or concerns you have about their school. Knowledge of the school’s policies will make you that much more confident in your child’s safety during the day.
Teach Your Child About Online Safety
With the inclusion of technology in many schools’ curricula today, a wide avenue is opened to many learning opportunities while creating a number of risks simultaneously. Talk with him about safety on the internet and how he should never disclose his personal information to anybody on the internet-even classmates.
Teach them about responsible technology use, and remind them to report uncomfortable interactions they may have online to you or another trusted adult at school. If your child does need devices to do homework, clear boundaries around screen time and internet use will keep them on task and safe.
Teach Your Child About Bullying and How to Report It
Bullying is sadly something with which to expect in most schools. Prepare your child to identify behaviors that constitute bullying and equip them with telling someone when they or another are being victimized. Role-play teaches the child that once there has been an incident, they have to report to the teacher or any other officer at school.
That might turn them, too, into perpetrators of bullying, but having schools with anti-bullying policies in force and encouraging your child to speak out is just building a more protective setting for all children. On the contrary, remember to reassure him or her that they are never alone at school and there are always adults present who can help them.
Name labels for your child’s personal belongings with his or her name are the simplest yet effective way of ensuring that he or she is safe in school. The school setting is busy, and children lose their backpacks, jackets, and lunch boxes. Putting labels with their names on such objects lessens the chances of them losing them or picking up another person by mistake.
Get Involved with the School Community
Other ways to make sure your child is safe involve involvement in your child’s school life: events, PTA, and close contact with your child’s teachers and administrators. The more you get involved, the more familiar you’ll become with the surroundings your child is exposed to, and the people who are taking care of them throughout the day.
Through volunteering with the school activities or just attending meetings, you start to get an idea of how the school looks at and prioritizes safety. Besides that, getting familiar with other parents can be a means of picking up concerns that could come up.
Conclusion
Your child’s safety at school is a partnership among you, your child, and the school community. Teaching your child some of the key safety rules, keeping yourself informed, and keeping the lines of communication open will give you added confidence that your child is able to handle any problems that may arise at school. Remember, you are not only taking your child through a safe school year but also giving lifelong skills to your child. Well, keep up the good work; surely you are making quite a difference in your child’s life!
