Phone Numbers
With today’s technological world, kids need to know more phone numbers than ever before. This is especially true for kids that are from split families. To make things a little easier, I set up my computer to print a business card (all information needs to fit inside 3-1/2” wide by 2” high (leave 1/4” margin all the way around). Then I typed everyone’s numbers that the kids might need. In our case, there were a lot of numbers! Don’t forget that you can use both sides.

If you are doing a number of these, you may want to pick up a package of blank business cards from Office Depot or Staples. They have directions on how to set up your word processing program to make it easy.

When you are done, have the cards laminated. If the kids are old enough to carry a wallet, it will slip inside easily. If they are younger, you can punch a hole in the card and lace it into their school backpack, so they will not lose it.

Car Safety
Please be sure everyone is properly seat-belted into your vehicle before putting the car into gear. Younger kids should be in car seats or booster seats, and they should sit in the back seat if they are under 12 years old. For a complete set of safety tips check our Child Transportation Safety Tips.

Drop kids as close to the school as possible. If the school has a drop off area, be sure to use it. Do not set a bad example by dropping them in a dangerous location. If the kids are young, wait until they are in the school yard or building before you leave.

Bike Safety
Please teach your kids that bikes have rules to follow, just like cars. Each year there are children injured or killed, because they are riding on the wrong side of the street, they fail to stop at a stop sign, or the fail to follow some other rule of the road. Print out the Sprocket Man comic to address this important subject in a fun way. Don’t forget their helmets! It’s not only safer, it’s the law.



Walking to School the Safe Way
Plan the route your kids are going to take if they are walking to school. It is important to try to minimize the number of streets they have to cross. Keep it as simple as possible. Then, do a dry run with your kids. You should have them do it at least once on their own before the first day of school, so they feel comfortable. Teach your kids to keep away from vacant lots, fields, and any other locations that have few people around.

Also, please make sure that your kids do not walk alone, especially if they are young. Creeps look for the kids that are all alone. It is much more difficult to deal with a bunch of kids, so they normally do not do it.

Family Meeting Spot
Make sure to pick out a family meeting spot that can be used in case of an emergency. Parents with kids in middle school and high school should make sure they do not forget this. When there is a crisis, things get confusing. If they know where they are supposed to meet you, you will both be more calm when you need it.

Stranger Safety
Teach your kids not to talk to strangers. They should not accept presents or rides from them. Also, be sure to pick a family password. This word will be used if someone different is picking them up from school, sports, or other locations. It should be a weird word, like spaghetti. One that someone would not be able to guess. If too many people have heard your word, change it!

After School Safety
If the kids are alone after school for a short time make sure that they follow some basic guidelines:

They should keep the doors locked.

They should never tell someone on the phone that there are no adults at home. Teach them to say that you can’t come to the phone right now.

Post a list of emergency phone numbers near the phone.

Have them call you at work or on your cell phone as soon as they get home.

Set up rules on what kind of food they can fix. Younger children should never use the stove without adult supervision.

Be sure to set up guidelines on who they can have over (if anyone) and what they are allowed to do.