You only need to turn on the news to know that being a parent is a difficult job. There are so many dangers out there that will keep the pressure of protecting your child foremost in your mind. If you are a working mum, then you almost dread holiday times and with the summer holidays on the horizon if can often mean weeks of stress working out how you are going to cover childcare, keep them entertained and how far you can protect the older children before losing their trust.
There’s a fine balance in teaching your children from a young age to know about the dangers in life without instilling fear. Providing the right knowledge without scaring them is what you want to achieve and you’d rather instil confidence in them than impressing your fears and anxiety on to them. There are however, some key steps you can take to ensure your children are armed with knowledge that will help them in an emergency. The first may sound obvious but from the youngest age possible, make sure your children know their full name and address as well as the home phone number. You can also teach them how to dial 999 and keep a list of emergency numbers for them by the phone. Also advise them if they are ever at home alone and they pick up the phone that they should never reveal they are on their own and never answer the door if it knocks.
Children should always carry the mobile numbers of their parents with them wherever they go so they can always contact you should they be out on their own or get separated from you if out as a family. Actually letting your children go out on their own for the first time with friends is a nerve wracking experience. You are not disrespecting your child with your level of worry as this is just a normal feeling that all parents will go through, no matter how trustworthy or sensible your children are. You’ve probably taught your child not to talk to strangers or get into a stranger’s car since they were young but they should also know they shouldn’t be afraid to be rude to a grownup if they feel threatened or unsafe. If they are scared then they should run to safety and use their voice by screaming out loud to attract attention.
Obviously the better communication you have with your children, the easier it will be to establishing a relationship of trust. As they grow older and become more independent they will be more likely to share everything with you such as where they are going and who they are hanging out with. However, sometimes in life plans change and a young person may not think it necessary to call you and let you know. How much would it alleviate your stress levels if you knew where they were are any time? Perhaps it’s time to consider using a GPS child tracker such as iSee:My Children. As long as there is a WiFi or GPS signal these devices will allow you to see the location of your child or children via an app on your mobile phone. You can also set geo-fencing zones so if they have said they are going to a certain place such as a friend’s house or shopping then you will be sent an alert if they wander out of that zone and the same if they wander back in. Such devices help you keep an eye on them from a distance without encroaching on their privacy or independence.