5 Important Back to School Safety Tips

School is back in session! Whether your child is in grade school, middle school or even high school, safety is an important priority as a parent.

To help keep your kids safe this school year, follow these important tips.

1. Walking safety – Whether your child is 5 or 15, child abductions are a possibility at any age. It’s always better for kids to walk in groups to school. For children under 12, you’ll probably want to walk with them. If your child takes the bus, make sure they wait for it at least 10 feet from the road. They also should never cross behind the bus.

2. Talk to them about home safety – It’s very important that your child never share your home security system key code with friends or strangers at school. It could put your home at risk to burglaries and vandalism. If you’re considering leaving your child home alone for the first time, have a trial period and establish rules. Also, don’t forget to check in to make sure they’re okay.

3. Monitor the internet – Many school projects require internet use. As the school year starts, it’s important to remind your children about cyberstalking and other dangerous threats. Read our posting on “How to Manage Your Teen’s Online Behavior” for more information.

4. Get them a good backpack – The wrong backpack can cause injuries and may increase the curvature of the spine according to KeepSchoolsSafe.org. When buying a backpack, make sure it has wide, padded shoulder straps that are adjustable. Additionally, a backpack’s maximum weight should be 20 percent of your child’s total body weight.

5. Communication is important – Finally, communication is vital for the safety and well-being of your child. Ask them about their day at school. It’s the first step to ensuring everything is going well at school.

Following these five tips will help your children as they head on back to school. For even more great back-to-school and home safety tips, follow us on the Hue & Cry Facebook Page.