Back to School Safety Tips from the Revved Up Mom
Summer flew by, and the kiddos are heading back to school. As you navigate new schedules, new activities, and new caregivers here are a few safety tips:
- Practice bus stop safety. While stranger abductions are rare, bus stops can provide opportunity for predators. They can capitalize on a set schedule that gives them plenty of information to select a victim. Keep your child safer at the bus stop by following two easy rules. First, your child should never wait at the bus stop alone. If your child is the only one at the stop, switch to a different stop with more children, or have a trusted adult there for pick up and drop off. Second, you should make a plan for a missed bus. Especially if you leave for work when your child leaves for the bus, your child needs to know exactly what to do and where to go in case of a missed bus, or a bus that doesn’t arrive for pick up.
- Ask your school and your after-care program to provide information about their child safety practices. Just as we recommended for summer camps and vacation/resort activities, you should find out how your school and your after-care program address child safety. This incident involving a daycare worker in Johns Creek is a perfect example of why this is so important.
- Talk with your child about personal boundaries. Let your child know that it’s not okay to touch, hug or kiss another child unless that child gives permission; likewise, your child should not tolerate unwanted physical contact from another student or from a teacher or staff member. Role play with your child so they are prepared to respond to the situation if it arises. Remind your child that you want to know if anyone is making them uncomfortable at school for any reason. This is also a good time to reinforce that privates are private and no one is allowed to see or touch their privates.
- Arm your child to respond to bullying. Approximately 800,000 children in the U.S. avoid going to school every day because they fear being bullied. Help your child understand bullying, and role play so that your child can respond effectively to a bully, whether the bullying is directed toward your child or toward another student. Bystanders play a key role in stopping bullying. Learn more about responding to bullying by visiting Stop Bullying.gov.
- Chaperone extracurricular activities. If your child is joining a club, troop or team, be sure to vet all of the activity leaders carefully. It is also wise to be present, or to arrange for a trusted adult to be there to watch over your child. One way that predators identify potential victims is to look for children who are routinely dropped off at activities; they also target children who are regularly picked up late by caregivers, or who seem starved for adult approval and attention. Consider collaborating with a group of parents and taking turns as the chaperone.
- Be thoughtful about play dates. Your child will undoubtedly make new friends at school, and may want to spend time with those friends outside of school. Unfortunately, a high percentage of sexual abuse occurs at the hands of family friends. Before you drop your child off for a play date with a new friend, it’s advisable to get to know the adults and older children in the home. A great way to do this is to schedule a parent-child outing at a local park or play place, or, you host a play date in your home and invite the parents. This will give you a chance to learn about the new friend’s family and determine whether or not you are comfortable allowing your child to play at the family’s house.
Enjoy the new school year! Be Smart, Be Strong and Be Safe!
Revved Up Kids has trained tens of thousands of children to recognize dangerous people, avoid unsafe situations, and escape attackers. Our training programs are available for boys and girls in K-12th grade, for parents, and for youth serving organizations. Contact us to discuss protecting the children you love from predators and violence, 678.526.3335.