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Letting kids play unsupervised seems like a thing of the past. Many parents are reluctant to let their children play outside alone. However, there are many ways that you can keep your children safe while they play outside unsupervised.
Set Some Ground Rules
Before you let your children play outside, you will need to set some ground rules. The age of your children is something that you will need to consider when setting the rules. The rules may pertain to things like how long the children can stay outside and where they are allowed to go.
Make sure that your children know their home address and phone number. You may also want to give them a mobile phone.
Teach Them About Bicycle Safety
Riding a bike is one of the many fun things that children can do while they are outside. It allows children to explore the great outdoors and get some exercise. There are reflective stickers you can buy which can be applied to the bicycle to make it easier to be seen by motorists. These can provide extra insurance on top of any existing reflectors attached to the bike. You will also need to make sure that your children wear a helmet that fits properly. They will also need to wear closed-toed shoes while riding. Additionally, you will need to tell your children about where they can and cannot ride.
Use a Geolocator App
Many parents are reluctant to let their children play outside alone because they have to know where their children are at all times. You can use a geolocator app to keep tabs on your children. This app will allow you to track your children’s location in real time.
Teach Them About Stranger Danger
Many parents constantly fear that their child is going to be abducted because of what they see on the news. You can keep your children safe by talking to them about stranger danger. Tell your children to avoid talking to strangers. You should also act out scenarios so that your children will know what to do if they are approached by a stranger. Let them know that they need to tell you or another adult if someone is bothering them.
Make the Backyard Safe
There are several things that you can do to make the backyard safer for your children. You will need to make sure all of the areas are fenced. You will also need to put a fence around electrical appliances. Additionally, you will need to lock up garages, sheds and storage sheds.
Community Watch
If there are other children in your neighborhood, then you should meet with the other parents. Ask them if it is okay for their children to play with your children. A group of children playing together is a lot safer than one or two children playing alone. All of the parents in the group can also take turns looking out for each other’s children. This will keep everyone safe.
These days, many parents are overprotective because of all of the crazy things that they see on the news. However, you can still let your children play outside by themselves. You will need to set some ground rules and discuss bicycle safety. You can also use an app to keep tabs on your children. Discussing stranger danger and making the backyard safe are other ways to keep your children safe. Furthermore, you may want to start a community watch program for your children and the neighbors’ children.
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This content is sponsored by Anne Davis.
Photo: Pexels