How to Teach Your Kids About Street Safety

As your children get older they will be playing near or around automobile traffic. Follow these guidelines from the FBI and the National Crime Prevention Council to ensure the safety of your children.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Identification Cards
• Identification Necklaces
• Whistles

1. Help your children memorize their full names, address and telephone number.

2. Teach your children how and when to use emergency telephone numbers such as 911.

3. Insist that your children don't talk to strangers or accept food or rides.

4. Instruct your children never to tell anyone that they are home alone.

5. Go over the safest routes between school and home. Point out safe places en route as well as spots to avoid.

6. Point out the signs to your children and explain their significance if your neighborhood is involved in the Block Parent program.

7. Point out the homes of trusted neighbors to which your kids can go in an emergency if you are away.

8. Talk to your kids about violence, and teach them to settle arguments with words or to walk away from a fight.

9. Have open discussions with your children about drugs and their dangers.

10. Encourage your children to speak to a trusted adult if something doesn't seem right.

on 3/23/2006 Instead of yelling, "Help, someone is attacking me!" Yell "Fire." People are more likely to come if they think there is a fire, because they don't want to be involved with an attacker.

on 2/23/2006 Kids are often told to "be seen and not heard," but they need to know that it's important to make a lot of noise if they are ever grabbed or threatened by a stranger. Some good things to yell are "Help!" or "You're not my mom/dad!" or anything else to attract attention from other people.