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Jordan
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Does anyone have a list, a link to a list, or a good book that covers safety topics to talk about with young children?
Thank you!
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Jordan
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Paula in MN
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I do -- let me find it and I'll pm you.
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 Paula
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cvbmom
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Paula,
Can you share that title or list with the rest of us? 
Thanks!
Christine
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Wife to dh - 18 years!
Mom to dd (16), ds (15), dd, (12), dd (11), ds (9), dd (8), dd (7), ds (5), dd (3), ds (2), and ds (1)
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Paula in MN
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I have a 36 Weeks of Health and Safety list that I use. It is essentially a topic per week. I have used it for a few years, and honestly don't know where I found it. I think my best friend (a paramedic) may have given it to me. I'm quite sure I didn't come up with it on my own 
I'll post it below...I do have it in a Word document. If you want that, just pm me with your email and I'll send it!
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Paula in MN
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36 WEEKS OF HEALTH & SAFETY
Try to cover at least one topic per week. The topics may be discussed in any order. Simply highlight or put a check next to each topic once it is covered.
1. Talk about preventing disease by: (a) washing hands regularly (b) keeping hands away from face (c) not eating from food someone else is eating (d) covering mouth while sneezing
__________________________________
1. Talk about tooth care (a) brushing after meals (b) care of toothbrush (keep dry when not using) (c) flossing (d) proper brushing technique (e) remember to brush tongue (f) avoid sugar
__________________________________
1. Discuss personal grooming (a) bathing (b) brushing/combing hair (c) clean and neat clothing (d) keeping hands and nails clean
__________________________________
1. Discuss lice prevention (a) don’t use combs and brushes that belong to other people (b) lice are killed with an over-the-counter lice shampoo and removed with fingers or specially designed comb
__________________________________
1. Discuss bathroom etiquette and safety (a) flushing toilet and closing lid –important to safety of younger siblings too! (b) always wash
hands after being in a bathroom (c) put away toothbrush and past after brushing and rinse out sink (d) wipe up water so that no one will slip (e) keep electrical appliances away from water
__________________________________
1. Discuss components of a nutritious meal (dairy, protein, fruit & vegetables, whole-grain) and where they are found (i.e. protein from meat) & components of junk food (sugar, chemical additives)
2. Discuss importance of drinking plenty of water
__________________________________
1. Discuss importance of rest. (a) a body needs rest in order to repair itself (b) when sleeping, your brain lets your body know it’s time to
grow (c) a growing child needs at least ten hours of sleep –more if you’re having a growing spurt (d) don’t eat right before going to bed– your body will be to busy digesting to repair itself and to grow (e) open door or window for fresh air
__________________________________
1. Discuss exercise. (1) exercise is any activity (2) exercise helps build strong muscles and helps your body to work better (3) muscles must
be used to keep them working well, otherwise thy become weaker and smaller (4) you make the muscles of your heart and lungs stronger by
doing fast exercises (5) your muscles may ache after a lot of exercise– give them a rest– they’ll eventually get stronger!
__________________________________
1. Discuss breakfast, lunch, and dinner (a) common foods for each (b) nutritious/non-nutritious foods for each (c) time of day for each (d)
size of each
2. Learn food pyramid (dairy, meats, citrus fruits, leafy green and yellow veggies, breads and cereals, fats and oils
__________________________________
1. Learn about the telephone number 911. Explain (a) proper time to use it, giving a few examples of appropriate emergencies and a few examples of inappropriate “emergencies” (b)
2. Have child practice what to say into phone such as address (if address is too much, perhaps the street name and parents’ names
__________________________________
Learn about bike safety. (a) always listen for car doors being shut and engines turned on– this signals that a car that looks stationary is about to move (b) be especially careful to watch for cars backing out of driveways (c) watch for cars’ blinkers indicating that they are going to turn (d) always keep to the right side of the road (e) wear appropriate safety gear (e) eyes and ears are your best safety tools
__________________________________
Learn about auto safety. (a\always buckle your seatbelt (b) keep your arms and head inside the car (c) get in or out of a car on the side closest to the curb (d) do not touch driver or make loud noises while the car is moving (e) do not play with anything sharp while in a car– also watch out for straws (f) never play in the trunk of a car– it may close and you might not be able to get out
__________________________________
Learn about being a safe pedestrian. (a) Learn to identify each traffic sign (b) always look both ways before crossing a street (c) always listen for oncoming cars (d) do not accept a ride from a stranger (e) do not go anywhere, even with a friend, without your parent’s permission (f) stay away from animals you do not know (g) do not play around parked cars (h) walk on the left side of the street, facing oncoming cars (i) never jump or run quickly out into the road– a car may not be able to stop in time (j) remember, your safety is much more important than a toy’s or animal’s
__________________________________
Learn about playground and yard safety. (a) use playground equipment in the way it was intended (b) never tie anything around your neck
while playing on a playground. (c) never do anything that could allow you to land on your head or neck if you should accidentally fall (d) don’t let little brothers or sisters play by tubs or pools of water– don’t leave anything filled with water after you’re done playing with it (e) don’t go anywhere without your parent’s permission.
__________________________________
Learn about fire safety. (a) don’t play around fire or with matches If your house is on fire, (a) get out as fast as you can– don’t worry about toys or pets– now is not the time to call 911 (b) never go back into a burning building (c) if there is smoke, crawl out on your hands and knees– the air is fresher down below (d) if your clothes catch on fire, lie down, cover your face, and roll around on the ground until the fire is out– don’t run-running will make the fire burn hotter (e) wrapping yourself tightly in a rug or blanket can also put the fire out
__________________________________
Learn how to be safe during natural disasters (tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, etc) that occur in your area. For more information, do
research online, ask your librarian for resources, or contact your government agency.
__________________________________
Learn about safety around people you don’t know. (a) If someone waves or says hi to you, it is OK to reply. However, it is not OK to approach
the stranger or get near to them. (b) Just because someone seems nice does not mean that they are (c) Never get in a car with a stranger. (d) If an adult in a car asks for directions or for help getting the door open/closed, or wants to show you something like a cute puppy in the car, don’t go near the car, just tell them you will get your parent to help them. (e) Never go in someone’s house without your parent’s permission– even if it is a friendly neighbor’s. (f) Never go with someone, even a friend, without your parent’s permission
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Learn about personal abuse prevention (a) Do not be alone with someone you don't feel safe with. (b) Do not be alone with anyone who hurts you. (c) Listen to the little voice inside when it says that what is being done to you isn't right. (d) Find an adult you trust and tell them what is happening. If they don't believe you, keep telling until someone does believe you. (e) Parent– remember, as unfortunate as it is, most abuse against children is done by someone they know and that you trust such as relatives, sitters, and neighbors.
__________________________________
Learn about dressing for the weather. (a) dress in warm layers before going out into cold weather– notice how a family pet’s fur is thicker and fluffier during the winter in order to keep the warmer air close to its body (b) discuss what one might wear to the beach in the summer and why
(c) explain that most of a person’s body heat escapes through his head and that a hat can significantly reduce the amount of heat lost
__________________________________
Learn about how to protect others from your germs. (a) cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze (b) always wash your hands after
blowing your nose, coughing, sneezing, or having your fingers in your mouth (c) be careful not to cough or sneeze near food items (d) don’t touch other people’s hands or faces when you are sick (e) don’t kiss others on the lips when you are ill (f) throw away used tissues right away
__________________________________
Learn about safety around medicine. (a) never eat any pills or drink any liquids that your parent did not give you. (b) never drink extra medicine or eat extra pills (c) if you did take medicine that you weren’t supposed to, tell your parent right away– they need to know so that you will not get real sick (d) always put medicine away where your younger brothers and sisters can’t reach it (e) never play with a thermometer
__________________________________
Learn about water safety. (a) never go swimming alone (b) always have good manners in the water and watch out for others (c) do not play tricks while in the water (d) don’t swim under the diving board (e) don’t dive into shallow water (f) don’t swim if you see lightning or hear thunder (g) don’t swim right after you eat (h) don’t run near the pool (i) if at a beach, don’t go too far out or swim in restricted areas, (j) don’t swim near boats
__________________________________
Learn about garden safety. (a) never eat any part of a plant or mushroom unless your parent gives it to you. (b) only climb trees that your parents have said are safe to climb (c) don’t play directly under a tree if it is windy– a limb may fall off (d) stay away from garden chemicals–they may be poisonous or may hurt your skin
__________________________________
Learn about what to do if you get lost. (a) the best thing to do is to stay right where you are, your parent will find you (b) if you need help,
ask a woman with children for help or ask a worker in the store
__________________________________
Learn how to identify potentially dangerous situations. Try to keep accidents from happening in the first place by thinking ahead.
(a)Could this get in someone’s way and trip them or poke them? i.e. shoes on the stairs, needle in the couch, staple on the ground, box in the
doorway, vacuum cord stretched across hall (b) Could a baby or toddler choke on this or get to an unsafe place? i.e. coins, round candy, cleaning detergents, escape out open front door (c) could I cause something hot to spill on me? i.e. playing w/coffee pot, pan on stove
_________________________________
Learn about first aid. (a) learn how to take care of a minor scrape (b) learn how to take care of a minor burn
_________________________________
Learn to never put foreign objects into ears, nose, or eyes. Learn what to do if a foreign object should get into an orifice i.e. if a bean is
up your nose, blow out– do not suck in air through nose
_________________________________
Learn the dangers of running with objects in mouth (a) choking (b) impaling self
_________________________________
1. Learn the proper way to sit at the table while eating. (a) facing forward with legs hanging down (b) elbows off the table and (c) elbows
close to your body
2. Learn proper way to eat. (a) slowly chew bite sized pieces of food with your mouth closed– don’t stuff food quickly because you may choke
________________________________
1. Practice good posture to help bones grow strong and straight. When you have good posture your blood can circulate properly, you can breathe more easily, your body grows properly, and you are more alert.
2. Sitting properly (a) sit so your hips touch the back of your chair (b) keep shoulders back and stomach in (c) don’t cross legs– this causes poor blood circulation.
3. Standing properly (a) stand tall– pretend you are trying to touch the ceiling with your head (b) keep your shoulders back and head up (c) keep feet a few inches apart, pointing forward, with your weight on the balls of your feet, rather than on the heels.
_________________________________
1. Learn about the benefits of fresh air. “The quality of the blood depends almost as much on the air we breathe as on the food we eat.”
Charlotte Mason encouraged the child to be out-of-doors breathing quality fresh air as much as possible. (a) always allow air to circulate through the bedroom while sleeping, whether it be an open door or a slightly cracked window
_________________________________
1. Learn about having a pleasant face. (a) discuss what is a ‘pleasant’ face and what is not (b) discuss how other people react to pleasant and unpleasant faces (c) there is some data to suggest that smiling actually makes you feel happier– why don’t you test this yourself by smiling sometime when you aren’t very happy
_________________________________
Learn about food safety. (a) be careful to wash after touching raw meats and eggs– you may get a bacteria on your hands that could make you sick if you ingested it
_________________________________
Learn about safety around cords (a) never play with electrical cords, you could be electrocuted if it is punctured or cut. (b) never use electrical
cords around water– water conducts electricity and you could be electrocuted. (c) make sure that cords found on blinds are too high for your little brothers and sisters to reach– they could get caught in them.
_________________________________
1. Learn about how to hold sharp objects such as knives and pencils (a) always hold sharp objects down and pointing away from you
(b) Think about what would happen if you were to fall on the object you are carrying. Would it hurt you? Could it poke your eye? Think of the safest way to hold the object (c) Think about what would happen if someone ran into you while you were holding the object. Would it hurt them? Think of the safest way to hold the object. (d) Think about safety in the car too. Could a straw be a sharp object? What if your car stopped suddenly?
_________________________________
1. Learn about being safe around plastic bags. (a) discuss the body’s need for oxygen (b) discuss danger of plastic bags (c) discuss
protecting little ones
_________________________________
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stacykay
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Thank you for this list, Paula! I printed it out and am also sending a copy to one of my friends.
I wanted to add, the question about could a straw be a sharp object?- one of my friend's worst memories was when she was 12 and at McDonald's with her cousin. They were walking, her cousin was drinking, fell, and the straw perforated the back of her throat. EMS was called and she was taken to the hospital. She ended up ok, after surgery, but it was another one of those, if it had been a few more mms this or that way, she would possibly not have survived.
As a result, I am very cautious about straws and walking!
Thanks again!
God Bless,
Stacy in MI
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Jordan
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Thank you so much, Paula! This is perfect. 
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Sarah M
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Thanks! I printed this out.
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Barbara C.
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For stranger safety I recommend the Safe Side video by John Walsh and Julie Eigner-Clark. In fact, I would like to get our own copy to pull out every so often as a refresher. There was another book, too, that was recommended on here before, but I can't remember the name of it at the moment. It was for adults, and it was about teaching kids to trust their instincts, cons that abductors use to lure parents and kids, and empowering your kids to not be victims of crime.
Although, I will also have to copy and print that 36 week program for general health and safety. That seems really interesting and useful.
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stacykay
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Barbara C. wrote:
| .... There was another book, too, that was recommended on here before, but I can't remember the name of it at the moment. It was for adults, and it was about teaching kids to trust their instincts, ..... |
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CBC had a piece on trusting your instincts this past week. It was pretty interesting, and I thought to myself while watching it, "I have to talk to the boys about trusting their instincts." I had forgotten but will now be doing so after lunch!
God Bless,
Stacy in MI
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mandmsmom2001
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For an adult read, several of my freinds suggest Protecting the Gift by Gavin De Becker. I am just starting it now so I can not give a review yet.
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Jess
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Thanks so much for that list Paula!
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God bless,
Jess
+JMJ+
wife to dh('96)
mama to dd(13), dd(11), ds(9), dd(6), and dd (2), and baby girl born Sept 14!
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donnalynn
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How do you see going about this and what age?
Looks like so many of the topics would just be covered by daily living - personally I have noticed that young children don't seem to a learn a whole lot through "lessons" - but through example and me being there to go over the basics over and over and over again! 
I also have made a conscience decision not to do the stranger danger stuff - I think the danger with these kinds of programs and talks is that it shifts the responsibility for a child's safety from the parent to the child - it ruins innocence and the young child's sense that the world is a good place. But we do live a pretty rural area - it might be a luxury of our location.
I think in general we have gone "safety" overboard in this country - as if we could prevent every accident and tragedy. Probably going off on a tangent now so I will stop!
My dh's standard answer to safety concerns - "We have health insurance." 
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Jordan
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Donna,
In my case, I am not planning to give formal lessons in safety but I would like to have a list for myself to know what I have or have not talked about with my kids. My older child is five and asks tons of questions. Often, I feel like I should have better answers for her questions. We have many real life opportunities to discuss safety but I want to make sure I take advantage of those opportunities. Knowing the things I should teach her will help me when these things come up. For example, we've never really talked about what she should do if she were to get lost. I don't exactly know the answer, partly because we live overseas and things are different here. Having this list makes me think, "Huh, I really should figure this out so we can talk about what she could do before it ever happened." My main method has been to keep her very close when we are out in public, but as she's getting older, that's not always going to work. Another example is talking about medications. I've always just kept all medications and chemicals out of reach. Again, that method isn't going to work forever and now I have it in my mind to talk with her about it when the chance arises.
My goal is not to prevent every scrape and fall, but I do want to equip my kids with enough knowledge to help keep themselves from taking unnecessary risks. I think this would enable me to give them more freedom as they get older.
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Barbara C.
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"Protecting the Gift" is the book I was talking about. I went ahead and covered stranger safety, but the thing I emphasize most is what to do if my daughter gets lost from us (try to find a woman with kids, do not leave the store with anyone including a police officer, etc). We try to keep a close eye, but it really only takes a minute for a little one to disappear in a department store.
The Safe Side video talks to kids about the difference between the Safe adults your parents have designated and people you kind of know. Kids don't consider the cashier they see every week at the check-out a stranger, but they may not be someone you want your kids to go off with alone.
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SusanJ
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That's great advice to try to find a woman with kids. I'd never thought of that but my son is getting old enough to get lost and be told what to do when he does! I have an irrational fear of my kids getting kidnapped . . .
Susan
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donnalynn
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Jordan wrote:
My goal is not to prevent every scrape and fall, but I do want to equip my kids with enough knowledge to help keep themselves from taking unnecessary risks. I think this would enable me to give them more freedom as they get older. |
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I really was wandering on a tangent and I hope I didn't seem to be criticizing you, Jordan - a list for you makes perfect sense. I was also kind of thinking - oh my goodness - another subject to teach??? AACCKK
But this thread has had me thinking - I do have safety issues that we go over but aren't on that list - for instance no where is there "Discuss what to do if you are out and come across a bear". We do occasionally have bear drills - but this is more for my older children than the younger - at five, my oldest was still confined to the yard but now at 13 she does have more freedom to wander in the woods that surround our home. Our current five-year old can go with the 13 year-old but not out on his own. So the five year-old does "know" what to do but I wouldn't expect him to able to do it on his own - KWIM?
So, as always, it is a process of discernment - each parent would have to judge what needs to be discussed or not.
Also - we did have a neighbor down the road a ways who caused all kinds of trouble for our family - we had to instruct our children to come into the house if they saw him walking, we had to talk a lot about why Mr. X might be so hurtful. The worst was when he made a false report to DYFS (NJ child welfare agency) and we had to deal with a very inexperienced young lady who caused a lot more harm than good.
Right before my eyes I saw something taken away from my children - a bit of their innocence - and because of that I think my priority has been not to burden them with things that "might" happen or "just in case" type scenarios. I want to keep their childhood safe from unnecessary anxiety and worry.
And I think eventually it does all get covered as they age and life goes on. I think the hardest thing is when I have made a safety rule and then other families have different rules - but I just say try to say - "They know best for their children and we know best for you."
Well I've blathered on enough but it was good for me to process through all this - thank you!
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Jordan
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Donna, I think you make a good point about not wanting to burden our children with anxiety or to make the world sound like a scarry place. I agree that we need to be careful that we don't scare children when discussing certain safety issues, and I'm going to keep this in mind. I haven't found it easy to explain to my inquisitive 5 year-old why we protect ourselves from certain things, but that they are unlikely to happen.
Anyway, I appreciate your perspective and I apologize for sounding defensive in my previous post.
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4Real Forums : Living Learning
Topic: Safety Lessons
