Safety Awards for Kids

Teach children to identify traffic signs and signals.

Kids face a complex world of safety issues. Parents can help kids learn about basic concerns such as how to identify an emergency, traffic safety, stranger safety and first-aid safety. Awarding kids for mastering safety rules and techniques is a good way to encourage increased levels of responsibility, independence and awareness of their surroundings. Awards can range from simple certificates to small prizes such as candy or movie tickets for successfully mastering certain safety skills.

Fire Safety

Have your child design an escape route out of the house in case of fire and lead the family in a practice escape. Kids can also demonstrate their understanding of "Stop, Drop and Roll" and basic fire-safety rules such as not playing with matches without supervision. Present your child with a fire-safety award certificate that lists their fire-safety knowledge. Or create a safety checklist that includes fire safety and fill it in with stickers each time a specific safety issue is mastered. Keep this checklist on the refrigerator to show how proud you are of their safety accomplishments.

Traffic Safety

Kids should learn to identify traffic signs and signals, including crosswalk symbols. Teach kids to stop, look and listen before crossing any street. Walk around the neighborhood with your child and have him identify safety hazards and demonstrate how to safely navigate them. You can also reward your child with increased freedoms once he demonstrates his knowledge of traffic safety. For example, instead of driving him to a nearby friend's house, he can now walk there on his own.

Stranger Safety

Stranger safety is primarily related to teaching kids to trust their instincts and to be aware of their surroundings. Kids do not need to fear every new person they meet, but they do need to learn the basic rules of not going anywhere with or accepting gifts from a stranger. Don't forget that many kids now meet strangers online. Teach kids about Internet safety. Ask your child to describe her plan for dealing with a stranger and reward her knowledge with a Stranger Danger Awareness certificate, which you can easily create on a computer.

Emergencies

Kids should know about 911, how to dial it in an emergency and when to call. Depending on a child's age, you can also teach her basic first aid such as how to stop bleeding and apply bandages or antibiotic ointments. Have your child identify the potential hazards in each room of your house. In the kitchen, for example, children should know to stay away from where cleaning products are kept and not to touch hot stove tops. Give them awards based on how many hazards they can identify. In this case, keep the awards simple. Stickers, candy and new toys are all good incentives to learn about emergency safety.

References

• Kids Health: Teaching Your Child How to Use 911
• US Fire Administration: Teaching Children Fire Safety
• Education.com: Teaching Traffic Safety to Children
• Scholastic: Talking About Stranger Safety