It’s natural to worry about your child’s safety. There are some common-sense tips you can use to help keep your child safe and ways to teach your child how to be safe around roads, railways, water and sun.
Keep your child in your sight and go with them into public toilets. Arrange a meeting point in case you lose each other.
Tell your child to avoid talking to people they don't know when you're not there. Make sure your child knows never to walk away with strangers. Tell your children what behaviour is considered okay from a stranger, and what isn’t. Give your child examples of behaviour that is not ok – a stranger asking them to play, or asking them to come look at something or giving them treats.
If your child is travelling alone, tell them to sit near other families on the train or bus.
Tell them to ask for help from a police officer, another grown-up with children or someone working at a nearby shop if they get lost or feel unsafe.
Help them learn their address and telephone number.
Take a look at our ‘safety with others’ page for more information on helping your child stay safe from dangerous adults.
Families who might need further support
Some children and young people need further support to help them learn how to keep themselves safe. The general recommendation is to keep children safe should be tailored to fit your child’s skills and abilities.
Useful resources
- The Child Accident Trust has lots of tips and helpful advice to help keep your child safe.
- Advice from NHS.uk on heat exhaustion and sunstroke and sun safety.