Tips for Teaching Safety Skills to Young Children

Teaching safety skills is crucial. Here’s how to talk to your children so they listen when it’s really important.

Safety skills are critical, and both parents and children feel more anxious, stressed, and out of control when they aren’t there. Here are some things to know about teaching your preschool or kindergarten aged child about safety, and how to help them listen in the important moments so you can keep them safe.

Give Direction In the Form of a Positive

• Instead of “stop running” try “walk please”

• Instead of “stay out of the street” try “sidewalk plelase”

• Instead of “no hitting” say “safe hands”

• Instead of “no jumping on the couch” try “you can jump on your trampoline or on the floor”

Why is this so important? Many times young children don’t hear the first part of what you say, and they just hear the thing you want them to stop doing, which they may interpret as encouragement, or permission. Second, they need to know what to do. They need to be explicitly told what the options are! It is not obvious to them what to do instead, so help them come up with a safer idea, and praise them when they comply.

Have Consistent Rules and Remind Your Child What The Rules Are

Let’s say your rule is hold hands while crossing the street, but you’re in a quiet neighborhood with no traffic, and it’s a lovely day, and your child is running happily ahead of you, and you decide to let him cross the street alone. As adults we understand the difference between a busy city street and a quiet neighborhood, but in order to teach this important safety skill, you need to be consistent. Children need to learn that every time they come to the curb, they wait. For young children, this is the most important first step.

As you approach the curb, remind them of the expectation (“hold my hand to cross” or “wait for mom at the curb”), then praise them for following the direction (“good job waiting!” or “nice holding hands!)

Play Games to Teach Safety as Part of Your Routine

There are lots of games and songs you can use to make safety skills fun. Some examples of teaching listening skills and safety through play are:

• Red Light Green Light - practice listening skills and quickly responding to directions.

• Simon says (you can change this to Mama Says) - practice listening skills, and following directions.

I know how important it is to know you are capable of keeping your child safe, and I want you to know that you are. Start incorporating these tools into your daily routine, and you will start to feel more confident, control, and prepared to manage safety in your community.

You got this!

If you want even more support, I’m offering you these two free resources below: