Essential Safety Skills for Kids: What Every Child Should Know
Content Updated on January 19, 2009
There are lots of things kids can do to help themselves in potentially dangerous situations. Here's a list of things all children should know how to do.
Personal Information
Memorize Their Full Name and Know How to Spell It
Almost every kid knows the name they're parents call them (usually their first name, but sometimes they're called by their middle name), but they need to know their full name: first, middle, and last. They also need to know how to spell their full name. Many young children don't speak clearly, so spelling their name gives some additional clarity to adults who many not understand your child's unique speaking style. This is especially important at places like grocery stores where workers may need to say your child's name over the loud speaker.
Memorize Their Parents / Guardians Names and Know How to Spell Them
Just as they need to know their own name, children also need to know their parents' full names. Again, this is essential for helping police officers, fire fighters, store employees, etc. contact you if your child is lost or injured. Children should learn how to spell their parents' names (at least their first and last name), especially if your children don't speak clearly. Don't assume that your kids already know your actual name. I remember when each of my children learned that my legal name wasn't "Mommy" or "Honey" and what they thought was "Daddy's" first name was actually a nickname, a shortened version of his formal name. And then they were amazed to learn that we also had middle names, as if those names were a part of our secret identities.
Memorize Their Home Phone Number and Address
I'm always amazed to find school-aged children who don't know their own phone number or address. It's especially frustrating when there's an urgent situation that requires contacting parents or helping lost kids in the neighborhood find their way home. Children absolutely must know their address and phone number. A great way to help jog their memory is to give them an identification bracelet with the information engraved on the underside.
Memorize Their Parents' Mobile Phone Numbers
Since very few families have somebody manning the home phone all day, children should learn their parent's mobile phone numbers. Learning so many numbers can be difficult, though. To make remembering those numbers easier, try putting the numbers on your child's identification bracelet. Most bracelets have room to add one or two extra phone numbers in addition to your child's home address and phone number. Another alternative is to have your home phone number forwarded to your mobile phone, so if your child calls home and you aren't there to answer, the call will get forwarded to you wherever you are.
Navigate Through Their Neighborhood to Get Home
I've encountered several children, on different occasions, who were lost in their own neighborhoods, usually just one or two blocks away from home. Often this is caused by riding their bikes our going for walks without paying much attention to which way they turned and when. Take your children on walks of your neighborhood frequently, so they'll be able to recognize landmarks and street names, and let them practice guiding you back home.
Finding Helpers
Recognize Public Servants Who Can Help Them
Children should learn to recognize people who are in the business of helping kids: fire fighters, police officers, life guards, emergency medical personnel, teachers, etc. If they are ever lost or in need of assistance of any kind, these are the people your kids will want to talk to first if they're around. When you are out in public with your children, have a "lost kid drill" and ask your kids to pretend that they're lost, then point out any obvious public servants they see. Also, take your child to events where they can talk to such neighborhood heroes (both men and women), so they will feel more comfortable asking these protectors for help if they need it.
Recognize Employees Who Can Help Them
When children need help in grocery stores, department stores, amusement parks, etc., they can also get assistance from employees who work at that business. Teach your kids to recognize employees of a business by asking them to point out people who they think work at that business. For example, when you go to the grocery store, ask your kids to point out people who seem to work at the grocery store by paying attention to how those people are dressed and what they are doing. Also point out that some people who work at other companies go shopping in their work clothes, so even if somebody wears a uniform, that doesn't mean they are an employee of that store. Once the kids have figured out who works there, have them go up to the employee and ask something simple, such as, "Excuse me, where are the cans of soup?" (while you are nearby, of course). This will help your kids feel more comfortable going up to an employee of the store and asking for help if they truly need it.
Recognize Other Adults Who Can Help Them
Sometimes a police officer or safe-looking employee isn't available, so kids need to know what other people are safe bets for getting help if they need it. I teach my kids to look for grown ups with children because most of the time those grown ups will be parents who care about children and know how to talk to kids. If there are several grown ups with kids, I teach my kids to follow their instincts and go to the adult whom they feel most comfortable talking to. If they're too shy to talk to the adult, they can always talk to a friendly-looking kid with and adult and ask something like, "I'm lost, and I need help. Can you ask your mom/dad to help me?" I also tell my kids to look for nice ladies who look like friendly moms or grandmas. (I don't encourage my children to seek out help from men simply because of the twelve children I've known who were sexually assaulted, all of them were assaulted by men, both strangers and trusted people. This isn't to say that women aren't capable of such horrific acts, but in my experience, women are the safer bet.) And you can even have your kids practice asking these friendly-looking strangers for help (with you watching nearby, of course) by having your kids go up to them and ask them if they know what time it is.
Phone Calls
How to Use a Variety of Phones
All kids need to know how to use a phone, but phones have changed over the years, and they may need to learn to dial the different kinds. A standard touch-tone phone requires picking up the handset, listening for a dial tone, and dialing, and to hang up, you put the handset back on the "hook." Cordless phones often require you to turn them on before you dial and turn them off to hang up. Mobile phones require you to dial then press the green "send" button to make the call, and to hang up you press the red "end" button. And yes, your child may also need to use a pay phone, which requires you to use coins, credit cards, or calling cards to make the call. Then there are phone systems that require you to dial an outgoing number, such as the number 9, before you dial the phone number. And once in awhile, I still see the old rotary phones with the big dial that you have to turn (and wait, and turn, and wait, ...). Make sure your child knows how to use a variety a phone styles and make certain that they can use the phones in your home. The best way to do it is practice, practice, practice. The next time you see a pay phone, get out some change and have the kids make a phone call. Give them your cell phone and let them to call your answering machine at home. Give them lots of opportunities to become very familiar with how each type of phone functions.
How to Call 911 (or your local Emergency Services numbers)
Every child should memorize their local emergency number(s) (in the USA it's 911). Role play with your kids by using a remote control (pretend it's a telephone) and simulating an emergency; then have them practice calling 911, saying what the emergency is, and giving all of their information (e.g. name, address, phone number, age, etc.). Also have them make 911 signs to put next to each phone to remind them who to call in an emergency. And don't forget to tell them that they don't need to pay to make a 911 call on a pay phone.
How to Call Home
Even if your child knows their home phone number, that doesn't mean that they know how to call it. Sometimes they take too long to press the buttons. Other times they press the wrong numbers. Have them practice calling their home phone number. The more they practice, the faster they'll be able to successfully make a call even under stress.
How to Call Parents (and Other Important People)
Just as kids need to practice calling their home phone number, they also need to practice calling the numbers of other important numbers, such as their parents' mobile phones, relatives, neighbors, and work phones. In our home, whenever we need to call one of these important people for any reason (not just emergencies), we let the kids do the dialing, so they can get even more practice. Don't forget to post important phone numbers by each phone, and consider putting a card with important phone numbers in your child's backpack.
Avoiding Dangerous People
How to Say No, Go, and Tell
Kids need to know that they can say no to anyone (yes, even parents) if they feel that they're being put in an unsafe situation. Practice ways of saying no, from the polite, "No, thank you," to the loudest "No!" they can yell. Then they must get away from anyone who seems unsafe. Talk to them about different ways of getting away from an unsafe person. And finally, they must tell a safe adult what happened. (A good time to review the "Finding Helpers" section above.)
Know the Rules of Going Out
- Always ask parents for permission to go outside or to a friend's house.
- If your parents aren't available to give you permission or say you can't go, don't go.
- If your parents say you can go, make sure you tell them where you will be and don't go anywhere else.
- Never go anywhere alone (always stick with trusted friends and safe adults).
- Come straight in the house (or back home) if you feel unsafe at any time.
Know the Rules of Talking to People
- Don't talk to adults or older kids (such as teenagers) you don't know who approach you. (If an adult needs help, then they need to ask another adult, not a kid. Kids can get a safe adult or call 911 to help.)
- Don't give out personal information to anyone who doesn't need to know it. (Example: A nice lady, whom you don't know, walking down the street doesn't need to know your name, age, where you live, or where you go to school, even if she swears she has children your age. Your teacher, though, may need to know your age, and a police officer who is trying to help you when you're lost will need to know where you live.)
- Don't trust people who are trying to help you when you don't need help. (Example: If you're walking home from school and somebody tries to give you a ride home, even if you know the person, don't go. You didn't ask for their help.)
Avoiding Dangerous Situations
Know the Places to Avoid
- Streets and roads (don't play in the street, and avoid being near busy streets)
- Railroad tracks (only cross them when it's safe)
- Bodies of water (unless your parent or caregiver says it's OK to go swimming)
Know What Not to Touch
Kids need to know to not touch any of these items unless a parent or responsible adult says it's OK to do so.
- Cleaning products
- Chemicals (e.g. household, garden, automotive, etc.)
- Electrical plugs, wires, and parts
- Appliances, electronics, tools, machines, and motorized vehicles
Escape Skills
Imagine your child in a situation that requires them find their own way out to save themselves. Could they do it?
How to Unlock and Open a Variety of Doors
Parents often tell their kids to go out through a door during an emergency, such as when the smoke alarm or carbon monoxide detector beep, in the house, but if the kids don't know how to unlock and open the doors (including screen doors and security doors), they may get trapped in the house. Have your kids (especially small kids) practice unlocking and opening all doors in the house. (If you're worried about your kids running outside without your knowing about it, then install an alarm on each door that sounds when the door is opened.)
How to Open and Climb Out of a Window
If your house were on fire, would your kids know how to get out of the window? Have your kids practice opening the windows and climbing out. They may need to also practice unlocking the windows, dragging chairs or step-stools over to the window, pushing out screens, deploying emergency ladders, and safely sliding down, climbing down, or jumping out. (If you're worried about your kids doing this even when there isn't a fire, install an alarm that alerts you when the window is opened.)
How to Get Out of a Vehicle in an Emergency
Just as kids need to know how to get out of a burning house, they also need to know how to get out of a car. They should be able to unbuckle their seat belts, climb to a door they can open (if rear passenger doors aren't available or can't be opened), unlock the door if necessary, and open the door to get out. You can even teach them how to open and climb out of a car window if the door won't open. (Remember: Never leave kids unattended in a vehicle, so don't let them practice without you.) In our family, this emergency escape drill has become a daily game for the kids when it's time to get out of the car.
How to Run Fast and for Long Distances
Physical fitness is an important skill for survival for kids and adults. Children may need to run away from somebody trying to hurt them or from a dangerous situation, such as a fire or a stampede of people. They may also need to run for help. Make physical fitness a part of every day activities for your entire family. Go for walks and jogs together. Encourage your kids to see how fast they can run by timing them with a stopwatch, then make a game out of trying to beat their fastest score. Let them participate in sports that require running. If your child can't run because of medical conditions, you can still encourage them to build up their skills to help them walk quickly or move their wheelchair quickly or improve the speed of whatever way they use to get around.
How to Swim
If your child happens to fall in a body of water (e.g. pool, pond, stream, etc.) the best way to for them to escape is to know how to swim. Swimming lessons are fun and can save your child's life. If finding the time for swimming lessons is a concern, replace some of your child's other activities with swimming lessons. Swimming lessons are often not very expensive, so kids can even earn the money for lessons themselves.
Defense Skills
Here's the stuff you don't want to think about, your child in a situation that requires them to fight off an attacker.
How to Fight (and even fight dirty)
Yes, "no fighting" is a rule in our house, but if somebody tries to hurt my kids, I don't want them to helplessly lay there because they think fighting of any kind is bad. We spend so much time teaching kids to not physically hurt other people (I know I certainly have placed my kids in timeout many times for aggressive behavior), but we also need to let kids know that sometimes it's OK to fight. It's OK as long as you're trying to fight back against a person or animal that is trying to hurt you. Kids can take self defense courses. But even if such courses aren't available to you, you can still let your kids use stuffed animals and dolls to practice self defense skills that don't require special training, such as poking eyes, biting, pulling hair, bending back pinky fingers, kicking genitals, etc. (Remember to let them know that it's OK to fight dirty when they're trying to defend themselves.)
How to Throw
Throwing a baseball around isn't just an idle amusement or part of a competitive sport. It's also an important safety skill that can save your child from aggressive animals, like that big mean dog that's running through the neighborhood and chasing the kids as they come home from school (a situation I encountered several times as a child) or the mountain lion or bobcat that suddenly appears during a hiking trip (which also happened to me). A very effective way to fight off such animals is to scare them away by throwing rocks or other hard objects at them (aiming at the animal's head if you can). Anyone with functional arms can throw, but frequent practice can help your child improve their throwing force and aim, increasing the chances that they'll actually hit the dangerous creature and scare it away. So take your kids out to play baseball, or let them join a team to help them build their throwing skills and have fun at the same time.
How to Swing a Stick
The average untrained child may not be able to punch and kick with competition level martial arts force, but any kid can become a force to reckon with if they can swing a stick and hit something with it. Whether it's a baseball bat, hockey stick, cricket bat, golf club, or even just a big stick, a stick can be a versatile tool for fighting off dangerous animals and dangerous people. The more your child practices swinging a stick, the stronger your child's swings will get, making it easier for your child to fight off anything they may need to physically defend themselves against. Let your child take up a sport that develops those stick swinging muscles while playing fun, nonviolent games..
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