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Keeping Kids Safe
Protecting Preteens From Injury
By Gwen Morrison
Does that mean you should shelter your children? Absolutely not – but you do need to continually educate and remind them about the safe ways to play. It's unrealistic to expect your children to be by your side at all times so that they remain safe. It is the ultimate goal of parents to raise independent and safe adults.
There are training programs available that can aid parents in teaching safe play for kids. Information can be found online that is a great resource for parents to use when discussing the safety issues with preteens. When talking with your child, state the facts. This age group can be told actual statistics. It may add impact to know that there is truly a risk for serious injury or death if they don't follow the rules when on wheels.
You don't have to look far to see why children in the United States are dying from gun injuries. The statistics on gun availability are staggering, and most parents who own guns believe that the weapon is safely stored, yet kids are finding them and using them.
When trying to demystify the use of firearms, it is important to be aware of the kinds of programs your preteen is watching. "Some shows romanticize the use of guns," says Simpson. "At this impressionable age, they don't need to see all that violence."
It is also advisable for parents to talk to their kids about the danger of guns, as well as talk to your child's friend's parents about whether they have a gun in their home.
"I am not embarrassed to ask anyone if they have a weapon in their home if my son is going to be playing there," says Simpson. "Accidents happen – even when you have the most educated child. Curiosity wins sometimes."