I hope you and your family had a fun – and safe – summer. With our kids now heading back to school, I know a lot of you have concerns about your children’s safety while they’re away from home. In fact, many parents have asked me how they can be sure that their kids’ school is a safe place.
Even though almost every state requires criminal records and background checks before teachers are hired, the best way to be assured that your kids will stay safe is to make sure you’ve personally taught them the basics of safety. For example, they need to know that their personal safety is more important than being polite – if an adult or even another student has done something inappropriate, they need to feel comfortable telling you about it. Teach your kids to trust their instincts – if something feels wrong or uncomfortable, they should get away and tell an adult they can trust.
As always, I’m going to refer you to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Their website is full of great advice on keeping your kids out of harm’s way. Naturally, we’ve also posted a lot of great tips here at the AMW Safety Center – here are links to a few of them:
How Can I Teach My Child About Staying Away From Strangers?
How Can I Put An End To Bullying?
Take 25 And Talk To Your Kids About Safety
Talking To Teens About Peer Pressure
Make the time to talk to your children about these important subjects, and you’ll be able to enjoy your “alone time” while they’re at school, instead of worrying about them. Please keep in mind that I’m not suggesting by any means that you try to scare your kids when you talk to them about safety. I always say that knowledge is power, and our goal as parents should be to make our kids as empowered as we can!
-John
4 Comments on "John Walsh: Talking To Your Kids About Back To School Safety"
Rendell E. Norrington Sr.
My wife and I have a 4 year old son who cannot talk yet. He’s in special ed now for two years. We as a couple at first agreed that we wanted our children to be able to talk before attending daycare or school because we wanted our children to be able to tell us if anything happened. We need help with our youngest because he tries to express himself through frustration. Until he begins to talk how can we help him? He rides a school bus everyday to/from school. Thanks Rendell E. Norrington Sr.
robin gilles
hi, i have no idea what your sons diagnosis is but have you considered the possibility of autism…it is very common for children with autism to not be able to verbalize so it would be important for you to have him tested and evaluated and from there learn how you “can “communicate with him/her/ also has his hearing been checked?..this is where i would start..there are a lot of resources out there don’t be afraid to take the first step in asking for help. good luck to you!!!
Peggy Shipman
How can we get John Walsh come out to visit my granddaughters elementary school here in Tucson, Az? My granddaughter and many of her friends are overly friendly and I know I have tried everything get her to understand that she should not talk to strangers but she doesn’t think of any one as a stranger if they talk with her. She is 7 years old. I would buy the video that John talks about but I am trying to support my grandkids on my little SSD income. We moved out here so they could escape violience.
andrea martin
thank you for all the years on tv .
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