A s parents, our job is to keep our children safe and teach them how to keep themselves safe. And when young people have the knowledge and skills to make safe choices, they feel empowered and confident in the world around them.
Dr. Shefali Gandhi, a licensed psychologist in Scottsdale, Arizona, recommends integrating developmentally appropriate knowledge with practical skills to help children grow into resilient and healthy adults who know how to make safe choices.
“Addressing safety topics from an empowerment perspective can be more effective than approaching safety training from a fear-based approach,” she says. “Keeping child development at the forefront of how you teach will help you to structure safety training for your children more easily.”
Whether you have a Pre-K, elementary, junior high, high school, or college student, Dr. Gandhi offers an age-appropriate guide on helping them prioritize personal safety.
⍟ {DID YOU KNOW?} Public schools have consistently cited inadequate funding as a limiting factor in their capacity to provide mental health services to students.
SCHOOL SAFETY in Pre-K
CHILD READING LIST
★ “The Berenstain Bears Learn about Strangers” by Stan and Jan Bernstain
★ “A Treasure at Sea for Dragon and Me: Water Safety for Kids (and Dragons)” by Jean E. Pendziwol and Martine Gourbault
PARENT READING LIST
★“Do you have a secret?” by Marta Fabrega
★ “How to Keep Your Children Safe: A Guide for Parents” by Yvonne Vissing
A s preschool-aged children become more independent, they are learning how to move with greater coordination, interact in a new way with their environment and learn from everyday experiences. Parents can focus on teaching physical safety topics such as water, street, body and social safety.
When it comes to water play, firm rules such as always
