Family Life
CHILD
SAFETY CHECKLIST
As Young As Possible Children Should Know Their... 
- Full name.
- Parent's full name.
- Street address, including city and state.
- Telephone number, including area code.
As Young As Possible Children Need To Be Taught...
- How and when to dial 911
- Not to play with guns. If playing at a friend's house and
they see a gun (or if their friend wants to show them
their parent's gun), they should immediately go to the
friend's parent and tell the parent to lock up the gun so
no one gets hurt. Make sure your child tells you if they
ever see a gun at a friend's house so you can discuss the
matter with the parent. Guns should always be locked up
and never kept where children could get them.
- To hold your hand in crowded places.
- To scream "STRANGER" if someone tries to carry
him/her away.
- Never go anywhere with anyone (including your divorced
spouse) without your verbal permission or without the
secret password (see next item).
- A secret password. Just you and the child should know the
password, no one else. The password should be used only
in an extreme emergency situation which requires a
neighbor to unexpectedly take care of your child. If the
password is ever needed and used (it probably won't be),
it must then be changed to a new password!
- No one should ever touch their "private parts".
Children will not be embarrassed if you explain things
seriously, simply and openly. Don't make a big issue out
of it. Just explain that you must be told if anyone ever
talks about, teases them about, or tries to touch their
private parts, including chest area or backside. Explain
that you should also be told if anyone ever tries to play
a rubbing or touching game of any sort. Let your child
know you will never be angry with them or dissappointed
in them if they talk to you about this subject. And
stress the fact that they should never keep any secrets
from you concerning this subject, no matter what anyone
tells them!
Older Children Must Understand...
- To stay together as a group when playing outside with
friends.
- Not to answer the door when home alone unless a visitor
is expected.
- Never give out any personal information (name, phone
number, address, etc.) over the telephone.
- Never let anyone know they are home alone. If someone
calls on the phone and asks to speak to an adult your
child should say that their mom (or dad) is busy at the
moment. The child should ask for the caller's phone
number, take a short message and politely hang up. If the
person calls back, the child should simply say that their
mom (or dad) is still busy and will return the call as
soon as possible and then politely hang up.
- Who to contact in emergency situations.
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