Safety First: 5 things to teach children about Community safety
by June Serrano
Every child deserves a secure and healthy environment, and that's what the third week of June is all about - keeping Filipino children of all ages safe! In celebration of National Safe Kids week in the Philippines, here are five ways you can help keep kids safe in your community:
1. Teach children to ask questions!
Children are naturally curious, and it's important to guide them by asking the right questions.
Since children might not always be aware of the risks in their environment, teaching them how to ask the proper questions helps them develop critical thinking skills. Encouraging children to assess situations they encounter and communicate their thoughts effectively by having conversations with adults. This encourages children to become more conscious of their surroundings and take the necessary precautions to keep themselves safe!
Questions like Bakit? Ano? Kailan? Sino? Saan? Paano? Learn the right questions with a catchy rhythm through Musikantahan!
Tanong nang Tanong | Musikantahan
2. Safety in our Surroundings
These practices are essential in ensuring the safety of children in their surroundings. Adding to these, it is also important to prioritize their safety on the grounds and facilities they go to. Activities must take place in locations that are well-lit and easily supervised, avoiding isolated locations. Lastly, children must always be supervised in public areas to ensure their safety.
Street signs to keep children safe
Street signs or “babala” can be seen anywhere and should never be ignored. For safety within communities, signages are intentionally displayed. Teach children to be smart and cautious in the streets by obeying these rules!
Cleanliness in our surroundings
In addition to ensuring the physical safety of children, it is crucial to teach them to care for their surroundings and keep their communities clean. This way diseases could be prevented, allowing children to play freely in clean spaces, making a community an overall safe place!
3. Clean space, safe place!
Sweeping can keep neighborhoods clean! This song serves as a reminder that anyone could take part in the effort of cleaning the environment, even children! Let's equip ourselves with a broom, dustpan, trashcan, and a sense of purpose to make our communities clean! Motivated by a song "Magwalis-walis, Isa! Dalawa! Tatlo!"
4. Internet Safety for Children
Safety goes beyond the physical world; it extends to the internet as well. When children use the internet, they are just one click away from accessing any information. However, if not careful, online platforms can also access their personal details. Addressing internet safety to children is as important as discussing other pressing safety concerns. Bantay Bata 163 shares a Safety Checklist focused on Safety and Security in Early Childhood to help guide parents and guardians with these important conversations:
Keep passwords to your elf or share it only with your caregivers/trusted adults
Strengthen security settings
Limit your sharing of information
Add only people you know personally
If a stranger adds you as a friend or send message to you, or forward sexually explicit contents, immediately stop interacting with them
Browse only websites/contents that are appropriate to the age
Always think twice or thrice before posting anything
Do not download from suspicious sites or emails
Never meet up in person anyone you only met online
Learn more about internet safety by watching this video!
5. Safety means basic needs are met
For National Safe Kids Week, the main focus is to protect children. True safety for them means ensuring they have food to eat, shelter to live in, clothing to wear, and a supportive family. With strong and supportive families, children can feel safe and secure which allows them to be confident for who they are. This gives children a strong support system that empowers them to deal with the challenges outside their homes.
Let's discover the important things humans need, especially from their surroundings, with Sineskwela!
The safety of children in communities starts in their homes! Families are the first line of protection for children, and every safety measure taught to them prepares them for their individual journeys.
Empower children to make informed decisions by educating them about their surroundings. Want more educational content like this? Follow Knowledge Channel on Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok!