How do you keep your child safe at school?

It is unavoidable — the ‘boo boos’ and ‘owies’ that come with childhood. A child’s penchant for falling down, running into things and just being in the wrong place at the wrong time seems to be part of growing up.

The reasons behind this:

- Kids have gangly arms and legs.

- They still have an undiscovered and still-developing sense of coordination.

- They have tunnel vision (seeing only what they choose to see at any given moment).

- The sheer excitement that oozes from their energetic little bodies!

It is a fact of life that, as parents, we cannot shield and protect our children from every little incident. There are, however, ways to help reduce — but not eliminate — both the frequency and severity of your child’s mishaps.

Here, we discuss different ways you can help keep your child safe at school, including on the playground, where a lot of spills and falls can happen.

Shoes that keep them safe

Keep your child safe at school and elsewhere by making sure that they have the proper footwear.

While it is important for children to possess the ability to tie their own shoes, sending your children to school in Velcro-fastened shoes eliminates the possibility of them tripping over untied shoe laces.

Speaking of shoes, flip-flops may be a girl’s 'best friends,' but at school and on the playground, flip-flops raise the risk of smashed toes and falls when kids try to run with them.

Also, when it comes to your child's selected footwear for school and on the playground, keep this in mind: no slick-soled shoes, please. Be it cowboy boots, patent-leather Mary Jane’s or whatnot — your child’s shoes should have soles that can provide proper traction for them to run and play safely in.

Attire

Do you want to know how else you can keep your child safe at school? Make sure he/she is clothed properly!

For one — no hoods, please. When your child wears a hooded coat or jacket, his peripheral vision is minimised drastically if the hood extends beyond his face.

Foregoing hoods could possibly mean the difference between seeing or not seeing that car heading their way before crossing the street.

Another tip for keeping your child safe at school: Do not allow him/her to go to school in ill-fitted clothes. This includes (though not limited to) baggy pants with hems that sweep the floor.

If you're willing to invest money to keep your child safe at school, you might want to consider buying shatter-proof lenses and flexible earpieces if your child wears eyeglasses. The danger of serious injury as well as the cost of replacing lost or broken glasses easily justifies the added expense.

Braces

Here's another thing to consider when you want to keep your child safe at school: Does he/she child have braces? If yes, what kind?

Invisible braces as opposed to the traditional wire will cost a bit more BUT knowing that you won’t get a call from the school nurse who has unsuccessfully tried to separate your child’s braces from his lips or another child’s sleeve makes it a reasonable price to pay.

School bags

Keep your child safe at school by carefully choosing the kind of bags they use. Back injuries and poor posture are all too common due to bags filled with books slung over a child’s shoulder, or worn harness-styled improperly.

Your best bet? Satchels that are carried by hand or one that can be properly fitted to your child.

Allergies

Here's one VERY important pointer when you're thinking about how to keep your child safe at school: Ensure your child’s teacher(s) and the school nurse are aware of any allergies your child has; especially food or latex allergies.

Aside from that, they also need to know what to do in case your child inadvertently comes in contact with the things he/she is allergic to.

Sick days

Do not send your child to school when they are sick. A sick child is an unfocused child; one prone to accidents and injuries. So if your child is ill, let him/her take the day off school.

Tips to keep your kids safe from strangers

Last but not the least, never send your child to school wearing a shirt with their name printed on the front or back of it. Making their name visible to strangers makes your child vulnerable to child predators.

The same goes for your child's belongings — don't label them with your child's name in places that are clearly visible.

You can’t protect your child from everything and everyone. By making use of these tips for keeping your child safe at school, you can, however, keep the ‘damage’ to a minimum.

How do you keep your child safe at school and in other places? Share your own tips with us by leaving a comment!

Written by

Darla Noble

Safetyschool safetyplayground safety