Keeping Children Safe During School-Breaks and Holidays

 Holidays are joyful times often filled with excitement especially for the kids. This is because it is a time of deviation from the normal school-day routine. Although this sounds interesting to the children, it’s not often much fun for the parents who need to customise their daily schedule to suit and accommodate the children who will be at home and in the parent’s care most of the time.

Whether parents are ready for it or not, the holidays are here and it is their responsibility to ensure that the atmosphere is safe and secure for the children. It is only when the surroundings is safe and secure that parents can sleep with both eyes closed during this school-free period. 

Though often a stress filled time, School breaks give kids and parents the much-needed time to prepare for the new school year. During these breaks, however, children may get the impression that rules also have been relaxed, an assumption that can lead to dangerous situations or even accidents. Child safety is just as important during these breaks as when school is in session. 

For parents who work full-time, their children may spend these breaks with childcare providers, friends, neighbours, babysitters or even at home with older siblings for short periods of time. How can we arm our kids to help them stay safe during these breaks from school? 

Here are some child safety tips for you to use in preparation for these out of school period. 

Child- Home Safety 

•  Educating the kids about safety is important in ensuring that they stay accident free during the holiday period and always. Don’t just give rules; explain how things work and the danger of mis-use. That’s one way to make them responsible for their own safety. 
• Ensure that all electricity chords are well secured and hidden from the sight and reach of the children. 
• Keep all drugs and harmful substances out of the children’s reach. Never put a liquid harmful substance in a soft drink bottle. 
• Ensure they do not have access to naked flames like candles and lanterns. As much as possible, prepare their meals in such a way that they don’t have to visit the kitchen especially when you are not around. 
• Leave two emergency phone contacts, including that of an at-home neighbour, if possible. Tell your child who they are and show them where the information is posted. 
• Even the youngest child should know when and how to dial the state emergency numbers. Most emergency operators are experienced in dealing with young children and can comfort and reassure a young caller while help is on the way. 
•  Provide specific activities that can keep them safely busy while you are gone. A game, puzzle, an art project, or a scavenger hunt can provide hours of fun and keep little hands busy. 
•  Let your child or his sitter know you want play to be restricted to inside or if you are comfortable with outdoor play while you are gone. Know your children’s friends and their families. Let the children know whom they are permitted to visit and in a calm and convincing way, relate to them on why you do not want them to visit the ones you are not comfortable with. 
• Before you leave, put away all matches and candles and any other objects that curious minds might want to explore.

 Child safety during Holiday Field Trips. 

•  Find out all you can about the outing; where they are going, how they will get there, who will be with them, what they'll be doing and when they will be back. 
•  Instruct your child NEVER to leave her buddy or the group, even when making a trip to the bathroom. It has been proven that there is safety in numbers.
•  Put your name and phone number in your child's pocket so that in case of an emergency he has the information. Better still, ensure your child memorises your phone number and address in case of an emergency.
•  Ask your provider if they will give children a special meeting place in case they are separated from the group so you can reinforce those instructions. Otherwise, tell your child to sit down and wait for a policeman, someone else in uniform or his provider. He will be found more quickly if he remains in one place.
•  Suggest that the children on the field trip all wear the same colour shirts so that anyone separated from the group is easier to spot.

 Child safety on the road and with strangers. 

•  Never leave children alone in the car. 

• Avoid dressing kids in clothing that have their names on it. Kids tend to trust adults who know their names. 

Arming them with the following information will also go a long way in ensuring their safety. Inform them never to:

 ...accept gifts or clothing from strangers. 

•  ...go anywhere with strangers even when it sounds like    fun.                                                                                          

• ...give personal information to strangers.

• ...say no to anyone who encourages them to do what they have been told not to do. 
•  ...leave the house without permission. 

Child Safety When Staying With A Care Provider. 

 • Asking your child questions like, "What did you like best about today?" paves the way for conversation about his likes and dislikes while under the provider's care, and can give you a clear picture of your child's day. 

• Visit with the provider and your child together and watch their interaction to get a sense of how their personalities and communication styles go together. 

• Teach your child about good touch and bad touch. Let them know what you want them to do if a situation doesn't feel right to them. This is more applicable to female children. Let them know that they should scream and run away if anyone touches them in a way that makes them feel uncomfortable. 

• Ask the provider for a calendar of weekly activities so your child will know what to expect each day. With a calendar, you know whether she should wear sandals or tennis shoes or if you need extra money or a towel. 

School breaks can be memorable and fun if you and your child get together on what is expected and what rules should be observed year-round. Taking a break from school shouldn't mean that we forget to reinforce the rules of child safety for our kids. May we succeed as parents. Wishing you an accident and stress-free holiday. 

          B.A TAIWO 

B.Sc Ed{Chemistry},M.Ed {Edu.Admin}