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KIDS KORNER |
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Babysitting Safety Tips.
Babysitting is one of
the biggest
responsibilities you
will ever accept. Part
of your responsibility
is protecting yourself
as well as the children
you will be taking care
of. The following are
some tips for you when
accept a babysitting
job.
- Tell your parents
where you are
babysitting. Leave
them the name,
address and
telephone number of
the people you are
babysitting for, and
what time you will
be home.
- Know your employer.
Only accept jobs
from people you know
or for whom you have
a reliable
reference.
- Ask the parents what
time they will be
expected home.
- Ask the parents
where the emergency
exits, smoke
detectors and fire
extinguishers are.
Be sure and get a
phone number of
where you can reach
the parents while
they are away.
- Do not open the door
to a stranger.
- Don’t let anyone
know at the door or
on the phone that
you are there alone.
If asked, tell them
you are there
visiting and the
parents can’t come
to the phone right
now.
- Do not go outside to
investigate
suspicious noises or
activities. Turn on
the lights and call
the police. Be sure
all doors and
windows are locked.
- If you plan to take
the children to the
park or anywhere
else, make sure you
have a house key and
lock the doors and
windows before
leaving.
- If you ever feel
uneasy or suspicious
about something you
hear, don’t hesitate
to call the police.
- You should try to
take a first aid
class and/or take a
babysitting class.
Babysitter Checklist (.pdf
file) |
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Keep
Your Child Safe On-Line
How Do You Keep
Your Child Safe Online?
There is a whole new
world for kids - and for
you as a parent. The
online world offers
children experiences
that are both
educational and
rewarding; however, the
Internet can also
present unsafe
situations. If your
child is planning or
currently using the
Internet there are few
safety tips you as a
parent should take.
What Can Parents
Do?
Learn
About The Internet.
If you are just starting
out, you might want to
go research what is
available in the
"Internet" world at the
library, schools, or
even at a computer
store.
Get Involved.
Spend time online with
your child. Your
involvement in your
child's life, including
his or her use of the
Internet, is the best
insurance you can have
of your child's safety.
Stay Informed.
Keep yourself informed
about the parental
control tools that can
help you keep your child
safe on the Internet, as
well as the increasing
types of dangers and
risks for children and
young people.
Become An Advocate
For Kids. If you see
material or practices
you do or do not like,
contact your Internet
Service Provider (the
company that provides
you with a connection to
the Internet) or the
company that created the
material.
The Internet poses
new challenges for
parents because, unlike
television, radio, and
videos, the Internet:
- Is interactive -
your child can
interact with anyone
else online from
your home or school.
- It allows any user,
anywhere, to post any information,
including materials
that are inaccurate,
misleading and
inappropriate for children.
- It provides no
restrictions on
advertising to
children.
- It is not always
anonymous - even
when you might think
it is.
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E-Mail
E-mail is the most
popular application on
the Internet. It allows
your child to
communicate with other
people from anywhere in
the world. E-mail can
keep you in touch with
teachers, family and
friends; get help with
homework; establish
mentoring relationships;
practice and improve
writing skills, and make
world-wide pen pals.
Here are a few
steps to protect your
child on the Internet.
- Share your
child's email
account and
password.
- Talk with your
child about the
people he or she is
meeting online.
- Set a rule that
your child never
arranges an
in-person meeting
without you present.
- Complain to the
sender of
unsolicited email
and to your Internet
Service Provider
(ISP) about unwanted
email.
- Special parental
control tools have
been developed.
These tools,
although not perfect
by any means, will
allow you to:
- Route
your child's
email first
to your
account.
- Reject
email from
specific
email
addresses.
-
Limit email
with
offensive
language and
personal
information
from being
sent and
received
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Safety Skills For
Children The DeKalb Police
Department is always
concerned for the
welfare of our children.
Here are a few safety
tips you should teach
your child.
- Make
sure your
child knows
their full
name,
address and
phone
number.
- Go over
how to make
emergency
phone calls.
- Work out
an escape
plan in case
of a fire.
- Show
your child
where they
can go if an
emergency
occurs –
such as a
neighbor.
- Explain
to your
child what a
stranger is.
- Teach
your child
about good
touch/bad
touch.
- Tell
your child
if it feels
weird it
probably is.
Remind them
that they
can talk to
you about
anything.
- Tell
your child
to never
walk alone
and stay in
well lit
areas.
- Tell
your child
never to
accept a
ride or
gifts from a
stranger.
- Make
sure your
child is
taking the
safest route
to and from
school.
- Post
phone
numbers near
your
telephone –
work,
police,
fire,
neighbor.
- Have
your child
check in
with you or
designee
when they
arrive home
from school.
- Set up a
code word in
the event
you have
someone else
picking up
your child.
- Tell
your child
to never
open the
door to a
stranger
when they
are home
alone.
Caution them
about
answering
the phone –
what they
should say,
etc.
- Don’t
lose sight
of your
child in
public
places.
- Remind
your child
that if they
become lost
to find a
store clerk
or police
officer and
wait with
that person
until
you
arrive.
- If your
child finds
themselves
in a
dangerous
situation
tell them to
yell for
help ("This
is not my
mom or dad"
and
run to a
store or
house of
someone they
trust. Tell
them to
never run
into a
deserted
area.
Together,
let’s keep our
kids safe!
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School Safety Tips
Riding the
Bus
- Have a
safe place
to wait for
your bus,
away from
traffic and
the street.
- Stay
away from
the bus
until it
comes to a
complete
stop.
- When
being
dropped off,
exit the bus
and walk ten
giant steps
away from
the bus.
Keep a safe
distance
between you
and the bus.
Also,
remember
that the bus
driver can
see you best
when you are
back away
from the
bus.
- Use the
handrail to
enter and
exit the
bus.
- Stay
away from
the bus
until the
driver gives
his/her
signal that
it's okay to
approach.
- Be aware
of the
street
traffic
around you.
Drivers are
required to
follow
certain
rules of the
road
concerning
school
buses, however, not
all do.
Protect
yourself and
watch out!
Walking and
Biking to School
-
Mind all
traffic
signals
and/or the
crossing
guard --
never cross
the street
against a
light, even
if you don't
see any
traffic
coming.
-
Walk your
bike through
intersections.
-
Always use
the Buddy
System when
walking or
riding a
bike to
school to
and from
school.
-
Follow all
bicycle
rules.
-
If someone
follows you,
get away
from them as
quickly as
you can. If
they follow
you in their
car, turn
around
and go the
other way.
Be sure and
tell your
parents what
had
happened.
Riding in a
Car
- Safety
belts are
the best
form of
protection
passengers
have in the
event of a
crash.
- Everyone
needs to be
buckled up
properly.
That means
older kids
in seat
belts,
younger kids
in booster
seats and
little kids
in child
safety
seats.
Bus Stops
- Stay
with a group
while
waiting at
the bus
stop. If
someone
bothers you,
say NO, then
GO, and TELL
an adult
such as a
teacher or
your parent.
- If an
adult
approaches
you for help
or
directions,
remembers
grown-ups
should not
be asking
children for
help!
- If
someone
offers you a
ride, say
NO! Never
accept a
ride unless
your parents
have told it
is okay.
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At School
- Never
leave school
with someone
you don't
know. If
someone
tells you
there has
been an
emergency,
check first
with a trusted
adult,
parent or
teacher
before you
leave with
this person.
- If you
want to
change your
plans after
school,
check first
with your
parents.
Make sure
you have
your
parent's
permission
before going
anywhere.
- Keep
your locker
locked.
- Know
where your
belongings
are and
never leave
them
unattended.
Always label
your items –
bookbag,
tennis
shoes, gym
clothes,
etc.
- Never
carry a
large amount
of cash with
you.
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Talking To Your Kids
About Drugs And Alcohol
The issue of drugs
and alcohol can be
confusing to young
children. Parents should
talk to their children
and drugs and alcohol,
and it's not too soon to
begin. National studies
show that the average
age when a child first
tries marijuana is 12
and alcohol at the age
of 11. School programs
alone are not enough.
Parents must become
involved in helping
their children learn the
consequences of drugs.
Communication is one of
the most effective tools
you can use in helping
your child avoid drug
use. Listen carefully.
Kids who feel
comfortable talking to
their parents are more
likely to stay
drug-free.
What do you
say?
-
Tell them that
you love them
and you want
them to be
healthy and
happy.
-
Say you do not
find alcohol and
other illegal
drugs
acceptable. Many
parents never
state this
simple
principle.
-
Explain how this
use hurts
people. Physical
harm - for
example, AIDS,
slowed growth,
impaired
coordination,
accidents.
Emotional harm -
sense of not
belonging,
isolation,
paranoia.
Educational harm
- difficulties
remembering and
paying
attention.
-
Discuss the
legal issues. A
conviction for a
drug offense can
lead to time in
prison or cost
someone a job,
driver's
license, or
college loan.
-
Talk about
positive,
drug-free
alternatives,
and how you can
explore them
together. Some
ideas include
sports, reading,
movies, bike
rides, hikes,
camping,
cooking, games,
and concerts.
Involve your
kids' friends.
How do you say
it?
-
Calmly and
openly - don't
exaggerate. The
facts speak for
themselves.
-
Face to face -
exchange
information and
try to
understand each
other's point of
view. Be an
active listener
and let your
child talk about
fears and
concerns. Don't
interrupt and
don't preach.
-
Through
"teachable
moments" - in
contrast to a
formal lecture,
use a variety of
situations -
television news,
TV dramas,
books,
newspaper.
-
Establish an
ongoing
conversation
rather than
giving a
one-time speech.
-
Remember that
you set the
example. Avoid
contradictions
between your
words and your
actions. And
don't use
illegal drugs,
period!
-
Be creative! You
and your child
might act out
various
situations in
which one person
tries to
pressure another
to take a drug.
Figure out two
or three ways to
handle each
situation and
talk about which
works best.
-
Exchange ideas
with other
parents.
How can I tell
if a child is using
drugs?
Identifying
illegal drug use may
help prevent further
abuse. Possible
signs include:
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Change in moods
- more
irritable,
secretive,
withdrawn,
overly
sensitive,
inappropriately
angry, euphoric.
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Less responsible
- late coming
home, late for
school or class,
dishonest.
-
Changing friends
or changing
lifestyles - new
interests,
unexplained
cash.
-
Physical
deterioration -
difficulty in
concentration,
loss of
coordination,
loss of weight,
unhealthy
appearance.
Why do kids
use drugs?
Young people say
they turn to alcohol
and other drugs for
one or more of the
following reasons:
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To do what their
friends are
doing.
-
To escape pain
in their lives.
-
To fit in.
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Boredom.
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For fun.
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Curiosity.
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To take risks.
Take A Stand!
-
Educate yourself
about the facts
surrounding
alcohol and
other drug use.
You will lose
credibility with
your child if
your information
is not correct.
-
Establish clear
family rules
against drug use
and enforce them
consistently.
-
Develop your
parenting skills
through
seminars,
networking with
other parents,
reading,
counseling, and
support groups.
-
Work with other
parents to set
community
standards - you
don't raise a
child alone.
-
Volunteer at
schools, youth
centers, Boys &
Girls Clubs, or
other activities
in your
community.
For More
Information
-
State and local
government drug
use prevention,
intervention,
and treatment
agencies.
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State and local
law enforcement
agencies.
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Private drug use
treatment
service listed
in the telephone
book Yellow
Pages.
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National
Clearinghouse for
Alcohol and Drug
Information (NCADI)
http://www.health.org
P.O. Box 2345
Rockville, MD 20847-2345
800-729-6686
301-468-2600 Fax:
301-468-6433 |
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