General safety rules are a set of rules that need to be taught to children so that they can stay safe while interacting with society. These rules cover almost all aspects of interaction and the situations a child is more likely to face. Informing your child about these safety rules will enable them to stay safe while carrying out their routine activities

Know your name and address

First and foremost, there are safety rules that you need to teach your children to make them aware of their identity. Kids should know their name and address where they live; if they can remember the contact number, it is going to be a plus.

Parents should regularly memorize kids’ names and identities and also check whether they can remember their identities.

If a kid is unable to remember these details, you can put them in their apparel in the form of a small note. A personal locket can also be useful to store this useful information. Kids should also be made aware of the important landmarks near their houses or schools.

Do not eat anything given to you by a stranger

Parents should tell their kids not to eat anything from a stranger. This information should not be merely communicated in the form of a sentence. Parents need to explain the various scenarios in which this can occur.

For instance, parents should explain to kids if a stranger comes to you and tells you that he is their parents’ best friend. Kids should not eat anything from them and stay away from such people.

Also, make them aware that they only eat from the person they know. Parents also need to guide children if an unknown person gives them a toy or some gift followed by candy. Do not accept any eatables from them.

Do not climb the fence

If the kids happened to be playing in the park and the ball bounced off the ground and fell in an area circled by a fence,. Kids may get there to retrieve the ball and climb the fence.

This situation can lead to injury, as most of the fences have sharp edges that can injure the child. Secondly, it can lead to some sort of fight or argument between the owners of that particular property.

Parents should not only make the kids aware of the consequences but also make them knowledgeable so that they can solve that particular problem. So guide them to ask the permission of the owner before receiving the ball from their premises.

Do not walk out of the Yard alone

Children should know that they are not allowed to walk alone from the house. Even if they are playing in front of the house, they should inform their parents before going outside.

There may be situations in which a child has to make decisions on its own to go outside. Explaining this in a situational context is also very important. For example, how should a child react in an emergency? So, advise them on how to dial 911 in case of an emergency.

If they are not able to get any help by phone and rush to their neighbors, what are some options they are allowed to use? How far they are allowed to go and to which neighbor’s house they can go.

Playing or Experimenting with Fire Is Not Allowed

Fire has a natural attraction, irrespective of age group. Children tend to mimic what their parents are doing. So when they see parents igniting a stove, they will try to replicate the same thing.

Children need to be made aware they are not allowed to play with fire, whatever the case is. This situation changes in the case of an event like a birthday party, and the child may insist that he would like to ignite his birthday candles.

Thus, children should be informed in a clear manner that, whatever the situation, they are not allowed to light fire.

Never Go Anywhere with a Stranger

Children should be made to understand that they are not allowed to go with a stranger. If mom or dad is late for school, and if a stranger asks them to come with them, don’t go with that stranger.

As these situations are common, inform children whom they will be sending, like an aunt or grandparent, to pick them up from school. Another situation is that if you are parking your vehicles and you perceive that the parking lot distance will be too far for the children to walk, this situation needs attention.

Guide your children if a stranger comes to pick them up, and tell them that their mother asked them to pick them up from the parking lot. Children should not go with strangers.

No One Is Allowed to Touch Your Kid’s Body

Children should be made to understand that nobody is allowed to touch their bodies. They should also be explained what is decent and what is inappropriate touch.

Parents should explain to the children what inappropriate touch is and what parts of the body lead to inappropriate touch. Do also inform children who are allowed to touch your child, like mamma or papa, what kind of touch they will be doing.

Also, make them aware that when someone other than the people who are allowed to touch them comes closer or touches them, they should immediately inform their parents.

If You Get Lost, Stay Where You Are

Children may get lost; supermarkets are common places where children get lost. On a shopping trip, there is also an ample chance that a child may get lost if their mother loses her attention.

Guide your children as to what to do and where to look for help. Firstly, tell them to stay where they are. If they see a mother with a baby, then ask them for help. But they should not go outside the building, even with that mother and the baby.

You can also make them aware to approach the cash counter where mommy pays for groceries but doesn’t go outside the market.

Do not share address and phone details

Children should know that sharing information is not safe. They should understand that sharing any kind of information is not safe.

Information about personal details need not be shared with others. Similarly, information like how many family members are in the house and what their office hours are. Where you keep your house keys should not be shared with other people.

If I am uncomfortable, I will not do it

Make sure your child understands that if he does not like any particular act, he does not need to perform it. If he is uncomfortable taking his clothes off in front of others to swim in the pool, he should not do it.

Similarly, there may be a situation where a child is forced to wear an inappropriate costume or outfit during a friend’s birthday party. Make your child aware that if he feels uncomfortable, he should not do it.

Conclusion

General safety rules are important to keep your children safe. Parents should necessarily teach these rules to their children as soon as they can understand them. Periodic revision of these rules is also necessary so that the child retains this information.