Today's Tip for Families

2026-08-09

A boy and girl wearing helmets while riding scooters.

Teach Your Child Basic Safety Rules

Families want to protect their children from everything that could harm them. But it isn't always possible to be there to keep them safe. That's why it's so important to help children learn to take care of themselves.

Teaching your child common-sense rules will not only help keep danger at bay, it will build the self-confidence children need to handle emergencies.

Make sure your elementary schooler knows:

Names. Children need to know their own full names, and the full names of their parents or caregivers.
Home addresses and phone numbers with area code. Be clear about who it is safe to share this information with.
The phone number where you can be reached at all times.
A neighbor or other trusted adult to turn to.
How to call 911 in an emergency, and what an emergency is.
Never to approach a car driven by a stranger, accept rides or gifts from strangers, or help strangers find "lost" animals or property.
The safest routes to and from school, the bus stop, and other frequently visited places.
Never to open the door to a stranger.
To tell you when someone makes your child feel uneasy.
To walk and play outdoors with friends, not alone.
To avoid dangerous places—vacant buildings, alleys, playgrounds or parks with broken equipment and litter.
How to settle arguments with words, not fists.
To walk away when others are arguing or fighting.
That taunting and teasing can hurt people.
To tell a teacher or other adult when something doesn’t seem quite right.

Brought to you by:

West Point Consolidated School District