Barefoot Social Work
  • Blog
  • About Barefoot
  • Contact
  • Resources
    • Guidance
    • Legislation
    • Tools

Barefoot's Tips For Keeping Children Safe

28/5/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
This morning I was speaking with someone about ‘Stranger Danger’ and how this approach, in isolation, can lull children into a false sense of security. Statistically speaking a child is at greater risk from adults known to them and they need to be equipped with the skills necessary to spot and respond to risky situations. The idea that they can only be harmed by a faceless stranger is a dangerous one.

Coincidentally, a couple of hours later I read an article in the Independent which reports ‘Stanger Danger’ does more harm than good.  The charity Parents and Abducted Children Together is calling for "stranger danger" to be abandoned by schools and parents, and replaced with a more complex message about recognising dangerous situations rather than people.
The above video from the 1980's looks very dated now and so is it's message (I've included it purely for nostalgia). Before this one there was "Charley Says" in the 1970s with his message about the danger of strangers in parks. Below I have posted some advice to help keep your child safe in the 21st century. You should select those that are most age appropriate.  

  • Teach your child their full name, your full name, address and telephone number; even if they have a mobile phone – these can get lost

  • Include your contact details in whatever your child carries with them (mobile phone, backpack etc) so you can be easily contacted in an emergency.

  • Teach your child not to provide personal information – such as their home address and the name of their school – to a stranger.

  • Teach your child to ring 999 from a mobile phone, public phone or home phone in an emergency.

  • Teach your child which authority figures or public figures they can trust and reach out to in times of need.

  • Teach your child to yell for help if someone tries to take them somewhere without your prior agreement. Get your child into the habit of asking for permission to walk away from you, even if only for a moment.

  • Agree a ‘safe word’ to be used if you allow an adult to pick them up.

  • Develop their confidence to "yell, run and tell" when faced with a dangerous situation.

  • Listen to your child if they say they do not like a particular adult and ask why.

  • Instruct your child not to open the door at home without your permission.

  • Teach your child to keep their distance from people in approaching cars who speak to them and run to a trusted adult.

  • Ensure your child tells you or someone you know where they are going if leaving home without adult supervision.

  • In crowded places, make sure you and your child know how to find each other if you get separated. Agree a central location to meet.

  • Encourage your child to let you know if anyone tells them to keep something secret, makes them feel uncomfortable or makes them do something that they don’t want to.

  • Teach them the difference between a secret and a surprise. Families shouldn't have secrets but surprise birthday presents are ok. 

  • Encourage your child to stay in a group and avoid quiet or badly lit locations where possible.

  • Remind your child to fully charge their mobile before leaving home. Also, agree with them that they will let you know when they arrive at their destination and when they are due to return.

  • Encourage your child to talk about their problems. If they don’t feel like they can talk to you or another trusted adult they can contact ChildLine on 0800 1111.

  • Teach your child about consent in a manner appropriate for their age. A five year old can be taught that if someone doesn't want to be touched, kissed, or tickled that should be respected. Equally, they have the same rights. 

  • Teach your child to spot the signs of sexual exploitation. The Thinkuknow website has information and advice for young people about this and what to do if they need help.

  • Teach your child about staying safe online. You might find my guides for younger children and big kids useful. Safe, a community interest company, said in the Independent article that "the concept of a stranger is very different if you've spoken to someone online. I think that's the challenge".

If you have any more tips please share them in the comments.

Have a great day!

0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Author

    I'm a Qualified Children's Social Worker with a passion for safeguarding and family support in the UK.

    Archives

    August 2016
    April 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    November 2014

    Categories

    All
    Adolescents
    Adoption
    Adverse Childhood Experiences
    Aggression
    Anti-Social Behaviour
    Assessment
    Attachment
    Attachment-Based Family Therapy
    Austerity
    BASW
    Behaviour
    Bereavement
    Cafcass
    CAMHS
    CBBC
    Celtic Knot
    CEOP
    Child Development
    Childhood In The Digital Age
    ChildNet
    Child Protection
    Children
    Conduct Disorder
    Conferences
    Conservatives
    Coursera
    Court
    CPD
    Crime
    Debate
    Depression
    Direct Work
    Election
    Emotional Distress
    Evidence
    Evidence Based Practice
    Family Justice Council
    Family Rights Group
    Futurelearn
    Global Developmental Delay
    Government
    Green Party
    Health
    Home Start
    Human Rights
    Identity
    Internet
    Labour
    Liberal Democrats
    Manchester Metropolitan University
    Media
    Mental Health
    Missing From Home
    Motivational Interviewing
    Movies
    Net Aware
    NSPCC
    Online Safety
    Oppositional Defiant Disorder
    Parenting
    Parents Charter
    Phd
    Playdough
    Policy
    Politics
    Poverty
    Psychology And Mental Health
    Reflective Practice
    Research
    Resilience
    Risk
    Safeguarding
    Statements
    Support Services
    SWET
    Teenagers
    The Clinical Psychology Of Children And Young People
    The Open University
    Tools
    UKIP
    University Of Edinburgh
    University Of Liverpool
    University Of Wolverhampton
    Welfare
    Your Family
    Your Voice

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Blog
  • About Barefoot
  • Contact
  • Resources
    • Guidance
    • Legislation
    • Tools