Appropriate age group:
Elementary School
Middle School
High School & Beyond

Description:
Summer is a great time to spend outdoors; you have a more relaxed carefree attitude, which allows the body, mind, and soul to ôlet goö of stress and worry, but donÆt forget to always maintain a sense of awareness for your surroundings.

Discuss with your family appropriate behavior while in the park, playground, on a bike, or at a crowded venue. Remind your children not to speak to strangers. Create a strategy for what your family would do in prescribed situations. Decide what you will do if you were ever to be separated at a large venue, e.g. find someone who works at the event to get you to the Lost and Found.

Together, canvas the pathways that your children take in your neighbor when they are away from the house. Find local stores. Point out neighborÆs homes, the fire station and police stations that can serve as a ôsafety houseö if your children ever feel uncomfortable in a situation when you are not present. Make defined boundaries as to where your child is allowed to play and how late he or she can stay out. Your children should know their phone number and address.

Have a simple discussion on what they would do if there were an accident. Make sure they know how to contact the police.

Each day, remind your children to be careful and to remember the family rules when out in the world. Work with your children to be conscious of why these safety tips are so important.

As your children grow, the more present and aware they are of the world around them, the easier it will be for them to navigate through it.