Helping children protect themselves is a joint effort of adults and children. Most of the responsibility is on the adult to protect the child. Preschool teachers and daycare providers can do their part by teaching young children about personal safety and how to handle emergency situations. Pam Adamchik, nationally-certified radKIDS instructor, offers excellent tips for teaching young children how to protect themselves.
Emergency Situations and Personal Safety
Young children must understand and internalize the fact that no one has the right to hurt them: Not a stranger, not a friend, teacher, uncle, parent, clergyman/woman, or neighbor. Teach them that it is not acceptable for anyone to hurt them and that if anyone tries to hurt them it is not their fault. This allows them to be okay with tell someone if they’re hurt and keep telling until they get help.
Therefore young children must know that they can say “No” to a grownup. Teach preschoolers that if someone touches them in a way they don’t feel comfortable with, or tells them to do something they don’t think they should, they are free to yell “No!” and run to safety.
Describe different emergencies such as fires, accidents, etc. Then explain to preschool age children that they are the most important emergency Show young children that 911 is their special number to call if they’re scared or think they need help and give examples of emergencies that would warrant a 911 phone call.
Exercises Tthat Teach Child Safety
- While the child is going to a friend’s house, or on the way home from school, or walking in the mall with a parent, a great activity that teaches safety is to have them look around and think about where he or she would run to if he or she needed help. Where do trusted neighbors live? Is there a shop or restaurant nearby? If not, where else could they go?
- Demonstrate what to do if someone tries to physically take them somewhere such as out of a store. Describe what a stranger might say: “Come with me, honey. Mommy’s waiting for us outside”. Teach children to yell, “No! You’re not my mom/dad!” and knock everything off the shelves. Someone who is trying to harm a child does not want all that attention, and they will let go of a child fast in this situation. That child can then run to a person with a name tag and get help.
- Instruct children to always yell when they’re in danger. Teach them to yell “No!” and “You’re not my mom!” or “You’re not my dad!” as the case may be.
A large part of child safety involves teaching young children about strangers as well as how to locate "safe" adults. These lessons, in conjunction with lessons about personal safety, help preschool teachers protect children and keep them safe.
Interview with Pam Adamchik conducted in December, 2009.
Carla Snuggs - As a writer for Suite101.com since 2005, it is a privilege to continue on as theTopic Editor for the subject of Day Care. I received a ...
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