How can I ensure my kids are always safe?

28 Answers Moderated by Stacey Kiger, LPC Updated: May 17, 2021

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LucyInTheSky on Jan 2, 2015

The first thing that people need to realize is that even with our kids, we cannot control every single situation.  All we can do is use our knowledge and experience to do the best possible job to protect them.  I also believe that the most important things we can do is give our children the tools to keep themselves safe.  As young children, we teach them to hold hands while crossing a street but eventually we teach them to look both ways for cars before stepping out.  We do this because we know that there may come a day where we are not there to protect them, and they will need their own tools.  Another important tool is the safe word.  After your children are older, such as pre-school to kindergarten age, teach them a safe word that only you, your child, and very close family or friends know.  That way, if anyone were to try and pick them up or give them a ride; they could use the safe word as a protection against strangers.

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Barush on Dec 23, 2014

There really is no way to ensure your children are safe at all times, unfortunately. However, you can teach them how to behave around strangers, or in certain situation that may be problematic, which could increase the degree of safety of your children. 

Anonymous on Dec 17, 2014

Be active in their lives, Know who their friends are, know what there into and for that matter up too.
Showing that you care in these ways had a tremendous effect. A second way is to educate them on issues like â€œstranger dangerâ€ and staying close by when out in public, know where there going and know where they have been. Teach them how and why and when to dial 911 if there’s an emergency. Make sure they know there address and phone number. There is no 100% way to ensure safety but creating a culture involving these things can help to ensure it.
 

awesomenesscoordinator on Dec 28, 2014

The honest truth:  You can't.  My daughter was abused by her own grandfather when she was five years old.  I instantly started resenting the entire world.  If I can't trust him, who can I trust!?  I only trust myself and my husband.  Everyone else unknowingly goes through an interview in my head.  I think about a person's family and friends and whether or not I see any evidence of issues below the surface.  I talk with other people who know the person, and my motherly instinct helps me generate a decision.    Watch your kids everywhere you go.  Don't let them run around the store where you can't see them.  Don't leave them in the car, even if you're just going in the gas station.  Lock your front door even when your home.  Install an alarm system.  Don't hire random babysitters.  That's just a few of the many ways to attempt to keep your children from harm.  However, the key weapon you have is your own parental ability and inevitable love of your child.

HotFudge on Oct 31, 2014

First of all, you could keep a safe word..some sort of a password that only you or your kids know about..so that whenever any stranger tries to harm them or lure them into getting in to his car,,they should ask first what the password is...and also keep checking with the school authorities from time to time about your kids and to know if they are having any kind of trouble or if they are being bullied by anyone at the school..hope this helps :)

HeyItsMeLiz on Nov 16, 2014

Unfortunately, the only way to do that is to lock them in a room with barred windows and watch them constantly. We all want our children to be safe, but the best we can do is to make sure they are well educated about this world and the people in it and you do your best to hone their sense of discernment. Your child will get hurt, get sick, and experience hard things, but it is your job as a parent to ensure that they are prepared for these eventualities.

tubaart on Dec 8, 2014

No one can always ensure anyone's safety, and trying to do so can do more harm than good.  The best way to keep your kids safe is to teach them how to be safe and stay safe.  Teach them the skills they need to protect themselves, and give them the freedom to exercise those skills in appropriate settings.  You can't always be there to protect them, but you can make sure they always know how to protect themselves, and that you will always be available to help them.

Anonymous on Mar 18, 2015

We can never ensure this, but we can implement ways to aid it. Suppport them and educate them on what dangers there are to face.

Alwaysdreamin on Apr 10, 2015

Parenting Expert

You cannot ensure they are always safe but you can teach them ways to be safe. Children need limits but when they get older, they also need some independence so that we are not helicopter parenting. I agree that there are so many scary things in this world and it is hard not to worry. Try not to project that worry to you children. They need to be kids while they can and have fun. Teach them safety procedures and what to do in case of an emergency. Tell them who they are allowed to ride with and have a code word for emergencies. Make sure they have appropriate supervision if they are young but give them some space to take risks and have fun. I read an article that showed research that middle school kids who take risks also learn more in school. So, although may ride their bike up a hill and fall down, they are learning. Continue teaching them about safety in all areas, water, stranger, and consider their age and maturity when leaving them alone. Ask a trusted neighbor to be available if you cannot if they need anything, they have someone else nearby to count on. Allow them to enjoy life while teaching them about safety. I try not to pass on my anxiety to my kids but it takes lots of hard work and practice for me to be able to do this. I want them to enjoy their childhoods like I did.

PoliteOcean on Aug 10, 2015

Why you can't always be certain what will happen when it comes to children, you can try to better prepare yourself and them. You can try to ensure your kids are safe by talking with them. You can incorporate a safety plan for your household. One that entails different safety measures to take for different dangerous situations. Whether it be from household, to strangers to public safety. Take the time to make the rules that you want to instill in them and want them to be aware of. Talk with them, go over the rules. Ask questions and allow them to answer. Allow them to ask you questions and be as honesty with them as you can be. Helping them to be prepared for different levels of danger and what safety measures to take will help you all to feel safer in knowing how to handle them if they arise.