Table of ContentsINTRODUCTION TO CHILD SAFETY

WE NEED IT URGENTLY!

SAFETY AT HOME

LEAVING KIDS WITH HOUSEKEEPERS

INTERACTION WITH STRANGERS

TAKING CARE DURING RECREATION

SAFETY RULES DURING TRAVEL

SAFETY AT SCHOOL

SAFETY WITH FRIENDS

HOW TO TAKE CARE OF BULLYING

UNDERSTANDING “SAFE TOUCH”

SURFING ON INTERNET SAFELY

AVOIDING DRUGS

AVOIDING GAMING ADDICTIONS

CONCLUSION

INTRODUCTION TO CHILD SAFETY­ THE NEED OF THE HOUR

As parents andmentors, it is ourresponsibility tosafeguard ourchildren and toteach them howto remain safe intoday's world.

“Children are the nation’s mostprecious resource. We all knowthat during the growing years,children do not know protectthemselves properly. Let us takeup the ownership to guide themproperly and make their growingyears happier and troublefree!.”

According to the National crimesbureau, crime against childrenhas risen by a whopping a52.5% from the previous year. Itis important that we prepare ourchildren mentally and physicallyto face the challenges of theworld of today as well astomorrow.

Though we cannot monitor ourchildren at all times, simpleprecautions and right guidancecan protect them in anyeventuality.

The world today is more complex and unsafeand there are a number of potential threats tochildren. The importance to educate childrenon threats they might encounter has becomethe need of the hour. Whether at home, atschool, with peers, care givers or online,children are in constant touch with stranger andhence need to be sensitized aboutcircumstances in which their physical, mentaland emotional safety might be threatened orchallenged. We need to educate them on howto handle these situations. Some of the factorsthat contribute to the rise in crime againstchildren include:

Rapid increase in migrant population/increase in city‘s population

Increase in the number of cases whereboth the parents are working and the childis left home alone.

Increase in the frequency and number ofhours the child has to stay with a caretaker.

Lack of effective safety measures in publicareas.

Exposure to violence and aggression of allsorts – e.g. through gaming / media /movies

Lack of stringent laws against abusers.

Social networking, mobile phone and cyberusages

SAFETY BEGINS AT HOME!

Home is where weteach ourChildren primaryrules for beingsafe and makingit a part of theirvalue system itself

Domestic accidents are worldwideproblems and occur on regular basis. Itis essential to discuss and implementsome key rules and guidelines toensure safety at home.

Scissors, nail cutters, knives,blades, match box, lighters, stapleretc. must be kept in lockeddrawers or cupboards & ifpossible, at a height not reachableby children. Such sharp objectsshould not be left loose and storedback in its shelves immediatelyafter its use.

Children always ape their parents.Hence if children are around,please ensure that you too arehandling the items properly

Keep small children away from wetand slippery floors

Install grills and safety locks inbalconies and windows

Ensure stairways are well lit andhave rails.

Close gas stoves, burners, andany electrical appliances after use.

Keep protective padding aroundsharp furniture edges and tables.

Please ensure that there are noLOOSE WIRES connected to anypower socket anytime.

Ensure that your Water Geyser isproperly EARTHED and plug pointbeyond the reach of kids to preventany mishap.

Unplug appliances when not in useand seal the unused plug points.

Teach the child to handle hot itemssafely

Keep all the medicines, cleaningchemicals completely out of reachfrom children.

Do not leave the child unattended inan elevator, car park, basement,terrace or any secluded places nearand around your house.

Teach the child to be safe from pets.Vaccinate your pets and instruct thechild not to disturb or harm the petwhen it is eating or sleeping.

Establish a no smoking rule athome. Avoid children gettingaffected passively.

Teach the child not to open the doorfor anybody they don‘t know at alltimes, when alone or even if theparents are home.

Regularly communicate withchildren about unusual encountersor any events that make themuncomfortable

Children should be taught how tolock and unlock all the doors

Instruct the child not to reveal anyinformation that they are alone athome if someone calls or even atschool/class they might be enrolledin. Ask the child to attend the phonecall, take a message and soundconfident.

MANAGING CHILDREN THROUGH HOUSEKEEPERS ( AYAHS )

As both parentswork, and thechild is left alonewith care givers,it is vital that theparents takeutmost care inchoosing andmonitoring them.

Drivers, maids, security guards,people who deliver newspaper, milk,groceries, laundry, etc are all peoplewhom we interact with on a dailybasis. As both parents work, and thechild is left alone with care givers, itis vital that the parents take utmostcare in choosing and monitoringthem. Given below are some ways ofensuring your kids safety when theyare with housekeepers / drivers :

Obtain a valid identity of thehousekeeper before appointingthem.

Do a reference check with thehousekeeper's relatives or froma former employee.

Discuss discipline; what actionswill the housekeeper take todiscipline your child? And checkwhether it‘s consistent with yourmethods.

Inform housekeepers about anymedical conditions of the childand train them with first aid

Post emergency contactnumbers and make sure theyhave access to that number.

Give surprise visits to your house whenthe child is alone with thehousekeeper, to ensure safety andcaring of the child.

Do not discuss any confidentialinformation in front of the housekeeper.

Train the children not to reveal anypersonal information including travelplans, being alone, vital informationsuch as bank details, etc.

Do not leave money or jewelleryunattended

Know your neighbours. Often, we leavethe keys or ask the neighbour to takecare of the child. Before that, ensurethat we have a positive relationshipwith them.

INTERACTION WITH STRANGERS

There are manyinstances inwhich they haveto meet strangerssuch as , on theway to the schoolor from school,on the road,public places,malls, etc.

A stranger is a person whom the childhas never met before and does notknow any information about. There aremany instances in which they have tomeet strangers such as, on the way tothe school, from school, on the road,public places, malls, etc. Given beloware ways of educating our child to besafe with strangers:

Ask the child to always be ingroups (2 or more) when walkingor riding to and from school.He/she should stay with a groupwhile waiting at the bus stop.

Know where your child is at alltimes. Discuss your child‘s planfor the day, their school timings,activities, etc. Teach them to askyou permission every time theyneed to stray away from regularplans.

Make sure they know your mobilenumber, work number, so that theycan reach you at all times

Tell the child that if an adultapproaches you for help ordirections to remember thatgrownups needing help should notask children for help; they shouldask other adults.

Tell the child that if someone youdon‘t know or feel uncomfortablewith offers you a ride, say NO.

Children should be taught not toreveal any personal informationabout themselves or their family(their name, address, school) overthe phone or to a stranger.

Taking any snacks, candies,medicines, money or any gifts fromstrangers should be strictlyprohibited.

Inform the children that if someonefollows you, get away from him orher as quickly as they can. Alwaysbe sure that the child TELLS you or atrusted adult about what happened.

Teach them safe locations. A safelocation can be a school, library,police station, store, or neighbour'shouse, anywhere that they can find aresponsible adult or lots of people.

Assure the child not to worry aboutbeing impolite or breaking rules if astranger tries to take them withthem. Tell them that it is ok toscream, fight, run away or doanything that will keep them safe.

TAKING CARE DURING RECREATION

Because childrenare stilldevelopingphysically and areless able to assessrisks it isimportant thatadults managerisks for them andinsist they followimportant safetyrules when takingpart in sport andrecreationactivities.

Children get hurt day in and out whenthey are playing. It is very essential thatwe let our children explore, experimentand evolve, but it is also important thatwe teach them to be cautious whilethey indulge in recreational activities.Children may overlook hazards whenthey are enthusiastic about the leisureactivity. Because children are stilldeveloping physically and are less ableto assess risks. Therefore, it isimportant that adults manage risks forthem and insist they follow importantsafety rules when taking part in sportand recreation activities. To reduce thechild‘s risk of injury while taking part insports and recreation, provide the childwith the following:

Inspect the ground at the start ofeach activity to make sure the areais free of hazards like road traffic,open water, rocks, uneven ground,and machinery or equipment.

Children who do not wear or useprotective equipment are at anincreased risk for a sport­relatedinjury. Get the right gear for eachsport, make sure it fits, and makesure the child wears it properlyevery time he/she plays. Gears forprotecting eyes, knees, shoulders,chin and elbows need to be given.Insist the child to wear it at alltimes during play.

Be active with the child. Fitness,conditioning, and participation in avariety of sport and recreationactivities reduce the risk of injury.Supervise actively. Stay closeenough that immediate action canbe taken if needed. Stay alert, payclose attention, and anticipatehazards. Help children to play by therules for safety and fun.

Make sure that the child‘s activitiesare appropriate for his age, physicalabilities and thinking abilities.Provide the child with professionalinstruction in their activities, such aslessons for skating or swimming.

If the child sustains an injury, get theapproval of a sports medicineprofessional before they return totheir activity.

Use safeguards and supervisewhen they use swimming pools,trampolines etc

Do not allow the children to playnear unsafe areas such asconstruction sites, bore wells ,ditches, newly laid roads, adjacentto a main road, or near a hospitals.

SAFETY RULES DURING TRAVEL

Road accidentsand mishaps areon the rise due tocarelessness, notadhering to rules,increase in trafficjams, rashdriving, poorroads andabsence of strictpunishments forbreaking trafficrules

Children need assistance dealing withthe traffic environment as they are notequipped developmentally to makecrucial decisions to keep them safe.Like learning to drive a car, childrenneed practise and experience to walk inthe traffic environment. Road accidentsand mishaps are on the rise due tocarelessness, not adhering to rules,increase due to rash driving, poorroads and absence of strictpunishments for breaking traffic rules.Hence educating children about safetyduring travel becomes essential. Hereare some pointers to teach our childrento become safer road­users:

Walk down to the local shop forgroceries or the newspaper withthe child and educate them on roadsense.

Park the car and walk around to thesports ground, on the wayexplaining the observations andchoices we make to get theresafely.

Talk about the importance ofwearing a helmet/ seat belts andinsist that everyone in the vehiclewear appropriate restraints for theirage and size.

Point out rules of the road whendriving.

Always demonstrate responsibleand safe behaviours when driving,as a passenger or while walkinganywhere around vehicles androads.

Never leave children alone in thevehicle.

Practice strict adherence to roadsafety rules.

Tell them to use the appropriatelane while walking, cycling, driving,etc.

Instruct them to avoid desertedroads and areas, especially atnights.

Do not allow children to drive untilthe appropriate age.

Do not allow children to play onroads.

Teach children the dangers ofpeeping out of the moving vehicles,jumping out of moving vehicles andfootboard travel.

Remember children learn goodhabits by modelling behaviour fromadults

SAFETY AT SCHOOL

A child interacts,form identities,understands andjudges peopleand learns tohandle objects byhimself/herself atschool.Establishingground rules andteaching themprecautions is asimportant asgiving freedom toexplore.

The child spends 8­10 hours at schoolevery day. Though the school strictlyfollows protocols in terms of safetymeasures, each child has to be trainedto handle situations by themselves, atschool. Establishing ground rules andteaching them precautions is asimportant as giving freedom to explore.Here are some essential pointers thatwe need to discuss with our child,about safety at school:

Tell the child that if anyone bothersyou while in, going to or fromschool, get away from that person,and TELL a trusted adult likeparents or teacher.

Instruct the child not to leave theschool premises during schoolhours with anyone other thanallowed by parents.

Inform the child not to leave withanybody who is not recognized bythe child or approved by the parent.

Inform any medical condition of thechild and the respective first aid tipsto be followed to the schoolauthorities.

Stick to the school timings. Do notdrop the child off too early or pickupthe child too late.

Teach the child to handleequipments carefully. Chemicals,instruments, sharp objects shouldbe handled with utmost care.

Tell the child to report to the schoolauthorities about any discomfort,hurt or pain. It is important that wedo not neglect it.

Inform the child to report to only theschool authorities at any point intime.

Ask your child not to involve in anyunnecessary conversation withattenders, van/ bus drivers andsecurity staff and to bring any suchuncomfortable conversations to theschool authorities.

Talk to the child openly about what ishappening in school, what are theevents and listen patiently when theyshare their experiences.

Instruct the child to stay away fromsecluded places in school.

It is important for the student to bringto attention any issues faced, to theschool authorities or parents as andwhen they happen.

SAFETY WITH FRIENDS

It is inevitable thatthey have tosocialize, learn togive and take,and be a part ofthe whole socialsystem

Children spend more time with theirpeers than with parents and relatives. Itis inevitable that they have to socialize,learn to give and take, and be a part ofthe whole social system. Treating ourchild as a friend, respecting theirautonomy and equipping them to formhealthy peer relations is vital. Givenbelow are pointers to help our childform healthy interpersonalrelationships:

Talk to the children as the childrenneed somebody whom they cantrust with, with information.

Ask the child questions about theirday. Have they seen bullies? Havethey been bullied? Keep lines ofcommunication open as they mightnot tell you instantaneously abouttheir experience.

Look for ‗warning signs‘ – drop ingrades, loss of friends etc.

Know the child‘s friends. Talk totheir parents and know what theyare like.

If the child is trapped in badcompany, do not yell or punish thechild. Explain why you think theyare bad and reason out with them.

Ensure adult supervision whilesending the child to a play date,party or sleepovers.

Talk to children about being safewith friends. No fighting, giving themsuggestions on how to resolvedifferent types of problemsamicably.

Inform the child to report to a teacheror school authority if they arepressurized by peers.

Often, children pick up myths andmisconceptions about sensitivethings such as drugs, sex, puberty,marriage etc. Talk to them aboutthese issues and clarify. It isimportant that they know the rightinformation.

Reason out with the child andestablish rules about timing ofgoing out, duration, amount ofmoney they spend on gifts andparties, place, things that they doetc.

Listen actively without judging orjumping into conclusions when thechild shares something aboutpeers.

BULLY PROOFING YOUR CHILD

Difference inopinions, culture,age, interests etccan lead to a driftin this largegroup thusforming smallclichés

Bullying is the act of causing wilfulharm to others by verbal harassment,physical assault, social exclusion etc.Here are some ways to bully proof ourchild

Teach the child to respect others,no matter the language, colour,religious preferences, food habits,weight, height and so on.

Train the child to be assertive andfirm. Teach them how to say "leaveme alone", "back off" "don‘t dothat."

Assure the child that he/she is safeand secure and to always report tous. Research shows that bullyingoften stops when they report to theadult, but very few children do.

Listen patiently and carefully whenthe child is sharing. Listen to bothsides of the story.

Look for signs such asunexplained cuts or bruises,damaged book or electronics, fearto go to school or to the play area,unusual lack of interest,anxiousness and frustration,trouble sleeping or frequentnightmares, and resistance to visitthe area where bullies are more.

Tell the child to report to the schoolauthority and assure that anyproblem would be fairly handled.

Follow up with the schoolauthorities, counsellors and parentsof other kids

Do not mock or humiliate the child.Being bullied does not mean theyare weak. Teach the child thathe/she owns the wholeresponsibility of oneself and thatthey have all the rights to protectthemselves.

Teach the child that if anythingtroubles them, they can talk to you orthe school authorities. Children whobully are aggressive, andsometimes reflect a problem athome, aggressively towards theirpeers. Parents and teachers mustlook at warning signs on a dailybasis of these aggressive students.Help them through these issues.

UNDERSTANDING “SAFE TOUCH”

There is enoughstatistical dataand researchabout child abusein India. Incidentsof small children,both boys andgirls beingsubjected tovarious forms ofabuse have beensteadilyincreasing.

There is a growing awarenessamongst parents about the reality ofChild Sexual Abuse ­ CSA. Gone arethe days when we assumed that "itdoes not happen in myneighbourhood". There is enoughstatistical data and research aboutchild abuse in India.

CSA includes sexual activity, whether ornot it includes physical touch. It doesnot necessarily involve direct physicalcontact, but can also happen in indirectways such as taking or postingobscene pictures of children or luringkids into sending their photos for anykind of pornography. CSA can lead toshort term and long term negativeconsequences. It affects the child‘s selfesteem; mental health and ability toform satisfying emotionally intimaterelationships.

Abuse can also be physical, verbaland emotional. Talk to the childabout the various forms of abuseand be open about it. Ask ―whatif‖ questions to allow the child tounderstand possible solutions toissues that could potentially arise.

Explain to the children that theirbody belongs to them and themonly. If they feel uncomfortable, theycan freely say NO because it's theirproperty.

Preparing them to handle suchsituations by providing information,skills and safety measures is vital.Here are some ways in which wecan start educating our child:

Prepare the child by creating acomfortable environment beforeaddressing this topic. Ask themleading questions, to understandwhat they are aware about andanswer questions clearly and easily.

Discuss about the body and itsfunctions in a healthy, free­ fromshame manner.

Believe what your children tell you.Show them that you will take action.

Teach them that there are parts oftheir bodies that are "personal andprivate" and it is inexcusable foranyone to "touch" them. Emphasizethat "bad touch" can happen evenwith family and close friends and tobe strict, vocal and report toparents/school authorities if treatedin such a manner.

Stress on personal safety and giveexamples of problem situation thatmay arise in school, home, publicplaces etc and how they shouldtackle it.

Teach the child to be bold andassertive. Often times, children donot disclose due to the fear of beingpunished.

Assure the child that it is not his/her fault andthere is no need to feel guilty or ashamed.

Make sure your children know that if anyonetouches them in unsafe ways, it is NOT theirfault. Emphasize that if they ever feeluncomfortable, confused, scared, worried, orupset about any type of touch, they should tellyou or another trusted adult right away. Explainthat they would never get in trouble for doing so.

Teach them to say ―NO‖ to people wheneverthey are uncomfortable with anything.

Keep a secret password or code word that onlythe child and the parent will know. If there is asituation that the child has to go with a stranger,train the child to ask for the password.

When the child asks doubts, do not ignore,scold or act ignorant. Spend enough time, listenactively and assure the child that he/she will betaken care of.

Do not insist that they hug or kiss their unclesand aunties if they do not want to.

Read a book or tell a story based that talksabout difficult subjects, that is suitable for theage of the child in words and language that theywould understand

As an adult, respect your child‘s boundaries andthey in return will develop the understanding ofwhat is ―right‖ and ―wrong‖ when it comes tophysical contact.

Most child molestation cases are done bysomeone who has developed a closerelationship to the child. Therefore, ensure thechild understands that it is OK to say a firm NOeven if it‘s a relative or someone close to thefamily.

SURFING ON INTERNET SAFELY

As parents, wewant to protectour children fromnegative or evenharmfulexperiencesonline. What ismost concerning,perhaps, is thatteaching kidsabout protectingthemselves onlineis so much morecomplicated thanany safetyconventions.

The Indian Information Technology(Amendment) Act 2008 hasconsiderably strengthened provisionsagainst familiar cyber crimes related tochildren.

The 2010 Norton Online Family Reportreveals how children are spendingmore time online and have had morenegative online experiences thanparents realise. It highlights differentapproaches taken by families globallyand uncovers the emotional impact ofchildren‘s negative online experiences.

As parents, we want to protect ourchildren from negative or even harmfulexperiences online. What is mostconcerning, perhaps, is that teachingkids about protecting themselvesonline is so much more complicatedthan any safety conventions. Whilethere are many rules about contentposted online or access to certainplatforms, the open nature of theInternet makes it increasingly difficult toregulate. While the world wide webprovides a wealth of opportunities tolearn and be connected to people andresources, there is always thepossibility that the child will encounterthe darker side of these technologies.

Two of the most pressing concerns for aparent with a child online are potentiallydamaging interactions and exposure toinappropriate content. Given below aresome important pointers about cybersafety:

Monitor the child‘s online activitieswithout intimidating them.

Keep the family computer in acommon area in your home.

Install safety locks, filters and setsearch engine to block content.

Tell your children when and for howlong they can go online.

Be familiar with the internet servicesthat our children use.

When the child wants to do a projector assignment, help him/her andmonitor the sites he/she visit.

Stick to the regulations given in theinternet sites about age, content,safety policies etc.

Ask about and get to know aboutyour child‘s "online friends".

Be careful when they showsymptoms of addiction such asprolonged hours of internet usage,irritation when they do not haveaccess to internet, suddenwithdrawal etc.

Know how to ‗escape‘—Hit control­alt­delete ifthe site will not allow you to exit.

Inform the child about the hazards that canhappen if they reveal potential personalinformation and how they can be easily exploited

Tell the child to avoid random public chat roomsand forums

Prohibit the child from posting name of theschool, personal identification marks, address,telephone numbers and any information thatmay cause harm

Ask the child to avoid posting personalphotographs. The probability of somebody elsesaving and morphing it is high.

Never let the child meet a person whom they―met online‖

Ask the child to report any email, messages,chat comments, etc that are inappropriate

As an adult, respect your child‘s boundaries andthey in return will develop the understanding ofwhat is ―right‖ and ―wrong‖ when it comes tophysical contact.

If we find our child viewing any inappropriatecontent, do not panic. Talk to the child about ageappropriate activities and explain the negativeeffects of such actions.

Teach the child to create a strong password andthat profiles on social networking websites maybe seen by people you may not know. Thewebsites often have privacy settings that youcan alter so you can control who sees yourprofile and what information they are allowed tosee.

Tell the child not to accept friend requests frompeople he/she doesn't know. Tell them to avoidmisleading ads, strangers with offers, strangee­mails, and questionable websites. Definequestionable websites to the child.

AVOIDING DRUGS

Most likely,children in highschool have notbegun to usealcohol, tobacco,or any other kindof drug. That iswhy high schoolis a good time tostart talking aboutthe dangers ofdrug use.

Drugs, including tobacco and alcohol,are easily available to children andadolescents. As a parent, you have amajor impact on your child‘s decisionnot to use drugs. Here are some tipsfor us to take this forward:

Teach the child different ways tosay No!

Provide guidance and clear rulesabout using drugs.

Spend time with the child. Talkhonestly with the child abouthealthy choices and riskybehaviour. Listen to what the childhas to say. Make talking andlistening a habit, the earlier thebetter.

Do not use tobacco or drugs infront of your kids, if you‘re in habit.Remember, you set an examplefor our child.

Correct any wrong beliefs that thechild might have. Ex: everybodydrinks, its ok to try once or twice

Children need to learn that doingsomething they know is wrong isnot a good way to ―fit in‖ or feelaccepted by others.

Children need to learn that NOTdoing something, they know iswrong, is OK, even if they are toldit‘s a means to fit in

Remind the child that real friends donot ask friends to do risky things likeuse alcohol, tobacco, or drugs.

Talk about the ill effects of drugs andsubstance use

When the underage child goes to aparty, make sure they are safe andunder parental supervision andthere is no alcohol usage.

Do a role play and practice. Thisway, it becomes natural to do atleast one of the following:

Firmly say, No!

Give a reason—―No thanks, I‘mnot into that. or ―No, my parentswould get really mad at me.

Suggest something else to do,like watch a movie or play agame.

Leave—go home, go to class

AVOIDING GAMING ADDICTIONS

The problem withgaming addictiondepends on thechoice of gamesand time spent ongaming/relatedactivities.

TV and video games are two of thebiggest vices children have to manage.The problem with gaming addictiondepends on the choice of games andtime spent on gaming/relatedactivities. It is a child‘s inability tobalance video games with the rest oftheir activities.

Following tips will help

Switch to casual games ­ gamesthat do not involve more time..

Create a reward system where thechild works for good grades,chores etc. in exchange for playingvideo games. Diversify their freetime.

Keep a strict schedule – createstructure with daily tasks likehomework, chores. Establish anacceptable amount of time forgaming.

Take a family trip. (eg) trekking,camping, outdoor sports, cycling,jogging, photography etc.

Be watchful for the choice ofgames they buy and play with.Violence related games, howevercommon they are, are proven tocause harm to the child‘sbehaviour. The aggression mightcause bullying etc.

When the child wants to do aproject or assignment, helphim/her and monitor the siteshe/she visit.

Stick to the regulations given in theinternet sites about age, content,safety policies etc.

Ask about and get to know aboutyour child‘s "online friends".

Be careful when they showsymptoms of addiction such asprolonged hours of internet usage,irritation when they do not haveaccess to internet, suddenwithdrawal etc.

Compulsive computer use/addictionis a symptom of a larger problem –is your child having problems fittingin. Have there been recent majorchanges / stress like a move orseparation.

Try to wean out gradually rather thansuddenly.

Recognize the signs of video gameaddiction. [Read Chenda Ngak‘s―Brilliantly illogical tweets‖ attwitter.com/Chenda Ngak]

SYMPTOMS:

PREOCCUPATION: spending a lot oftime thinking about games evenwhen not playing

WITHDRAWAL: Feeling restless,irritable, moody, angry, anxious orsad when want to cut down or stopgaming.

TOLERANCE : need to play forincreasing amount of time

GIVE UP OTHER ACTIVITIES: losing interest in orreduce participation in other recreationalactivities

CONTINUE DESPITE PROBLEMS: continuingplaying though one is aware of the negativeconsequences such as not getting sleep or lateto school or work

DECEIVE/COVER UP : lying to family and friendson how much you game

ESCAPE ADVERSE MOODS: gaming to escapeor forget about personal problems

RISK/LOSERELATIONSHIP/OPPORTUNITIES:Risk or losesignificant relationships, or job, educational orcareer opportunities because of gaming

What is needed is more of parental persuasions toencourage them. Try one of these video gamealternatives:

1. Take the entire family outside for a walk, gameor a picnic

2. Join a club or sports team

3. Enroll them in art or music or dance classes

4. Get a pet and give them the primaryresponsibility for its care

5. Read a good book at the library

6. Try an adventurous outdoor activity such as rock­climbing

CONCLUSIONChildren can overlook hazards in their environment.Enthusiasm, impulsivity and need to explore andexperiment are typical characteristics of them. Whilethey are in the process of growing up andunderstanding the world, we as a school andparents have a vital role in helping them choosewisely. The first step towards safe guarding wouldbe to make sure we educate them on these safetyrules. Most of the unfortunate accidents happen dueto lack of knowledge and carelessness. Thiscomprehensive manual can trigger preventiveactions and precautions that can reduce suchcircumstances.

Together, we can protect ourchildren by teaching them tobe smart, strong and safe!

VIDEO LINK:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a­5mdt9YN6I

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6aH8Rwax09A

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KWan3N­yhM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9s4fkEb4HY

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