How to Teach Preschoolers About Safety

When your child reaches the preschool age, it is time to begin teaching her about general safety. Even with diligent care and supervision, children must be taught about danger and how to avoid it. A young child with a healthy fear of danger will naturally avoid situations and activities with a high risk of harm or injury.

Things You'll Need

• Telephone

Instructions

1. Teach an awareness of activities that are dangerous. As you go through the day with a preschooler, talk about things that could potentially be dangerous. For example, crossing a street alone, climbing out of a car seat, or playing with the stove top are all things that could be discussed and warned about.
   If an incident occurs, avoid anger. If you show anger, you might begin a battle of wills with your child. If instead you communicate how afraid you were for the safety of your child, you can teach a healthy fear of dangerous activities.

2. Discuss safety rules with your preschooler at age 3, when your child becomes able to understand and follow simple instructions.
   Create family rules about safety that you repeat often so that your child will learn them. For example, teach your child never to go anywhere with anyone without your permission; teach your child never to wander away from you in a public place; and teach your child never to answer the door without your permission. Also make sure your child knows his entire name, the entire names of both parents, and the street you live on.

3. Test your preschooler to see what she would do in specific situations. What would she do if she were approached by a stranger in a park? What would he do if a stranger invited him to go get an ice-cream cone? These situations must be discussed to a certain extent with your preschooler, but not to the point of instilling extreme anxiety. Be very careful how you do this and watch your child's reactions to gauge how she is feeling.

4. Discuss fire safety. If possible, allow your child to meet a firefighter and see the safety gear and clothing. Instruct your child never to hide in the event of a fire. Discuss an escape route in your home and conduct a fire drill if desired.

5. Show your child how to dial 911 and instruct him about when it would be necessary to call 911. Explain what a life-threatening emergency is (fire, accident, illness) and tell her that if an emergency occurs, she may need to act quickly and call 911 for help if no one else is able to.