Whether you are a stay-at-home or a working parent, we all want our children to stay safe. It may feel impossible to know exactly what to do to keep your child safe but start with the basics.
Keeping preschoolers safe happens through age-appropriate teaching, fun, engaging activities, and creating an environment where your children feel comfortable coming to you. This guide provides must-have tips and tricks to help you teach your child about fire safety, street safety, and overall health and safety!
How To Teach Preschoolers About Safety
The best way to teach preschoolers about safety is by providing clear, explicit teaching that is age-appropriate. When we explicitly teach safety concepts, we provide them with the knowledge and skills they need to navigate their environment safely. By supporting these lessons through repetition and practice, we help children develop good safety habits that can last a lifetime.
Fire Safety Activities
First, fire safety is an essential topic to discuss with preschoolers.
Here are some engaging activities to help your child learn about fire safety:
Stop, Drop, and Roll:
Teach your child what to do if their clothes catch on fire. Practice the “stop, drop, and roll” technique together.
Fire Drill Practice:
Conduct regular fire drills at home. Show your child how to quickly and safely exit the house and where to meet outside. If your child wants to, use a timer to see how fast they are!
Smoke Detector Awareness:
Explain the purpose of smoke detectors and let your child hear the alarm sound. Teach them that if they hear the alarm, they need to get out of the house immediately and meet at the designated spot.
Firefighter Role Play:
Encourage imaginative play by dressing up as firefighters. Use toy hoses and pretend to put out fires. This helps children feel more comfortable with firefighters and understand their role in emergencies.
Street Safety Activities
Next, street safety is another critical area to focus on with preschoolers.
Here are some activities to teach your child about street safety:
Traffic Light Game:
Create a traffic light using colored paper or a toy set. Play a game where your child has to respond to the different colors—red means stop, yellow means slow down, and green means go. This helps them understand traffic signals.
Crosswalk Practice:
Practice crossing the street safely. Teach your child to look left, right, and left again before crossing. Use a toy car or create a street using painter’s tape to simulate the experience.
Walking Hand-in-Hand:
Emphasize the importance of holding an adult’s hand when walking near or crossing streets. Make it a habit by always holding hands when you’re out together.
Safe Zones:
Point out safe places to play, such as parks and playgrounds, and explain why it’s dangerous to play near streets or driveways. Use visual aids or drawings to illustrate safe and unsafe areas.
Health and Safety Activities
In addition, teaching health and safety is about helping your child understand how to care for their body and avoid common hazards. Here are some activities to promote health and safety:
Hand Washing Routine:
Teach proper handwashing techniques by singing a song that lasts 20 seconds. Make it fun by using colorful soap and rewarding consistent handwashing.
Healthy Eating Habits:
Involve your child in meal preparation and explain the benefits of different foods. Use a simple chart to show which foods are healthy and which should be eaten in moderation.
Stranger Danger:
Teach your child about the concept of strangers. Role-play scenarios where they might encounter a stranger and practice what to say and do. Emphasize the importance of finding a trusted adult if they feel uncomfortable.
First Aid Basics:
Introduce basic first aid concepts like cleaning a scrape and applying a bandage. Use a toy medical kit to practice these skills in a safe and controlled environment.
Do You Have a Child Going to School This Year?
If your child is starting school this year, safety extends beyond the home. Here are some resources and tips to help ensure they get to and from school safely:
School Bus Safety:
Teach your child to wait for the bus in a safe spot, away from the road. Explain the importance of sitting quietly on the bus and following the bus driver’s instructions.
Walking to School:
If your child will be walking to school, practice the route together. Point out safe places to cross the street and remind them to always use crosswalks and pedestrian signals.
Car Safety:
Ensure your child understands the importance of using a car seat or booster seat. Explain why they should buckle up each time they get in the car, even for short trips.
Stranger Safety:
Reinforce the concept of stranger danger and ensure your child knows who they can trust, such as teachers and school staff. Provide them with a list of trusted adults and their contact information.
This article, Getting to School Safely, goes into depth about making sure your child gets to school safely if they are walking, biking, or getting dropped off. Check it out if your child is going to school this year.
Conclusion
Keeping preschoolers safe involves a combination of explicit teaching, engaging activities, and consistent reinforcement. By focusing on basic safety, we equip our children with the knowledge and skills they need to navigate their world securely. Whether your child is at home or heading off to school, these tips and activities will help ensure they develop good safety habits that will benefit them for years. Remember, all education is an ongoing process, so keep practicing and reinforcing these important lessons with your child.
Is your child curious about street safety, vehicles, and getting around? Check out our transportation lesson for even more preschool learning!