Rayne Neighbourhood Watch

It is important to teach young children how to protect themselves when out and about. Statistically, the risks to children from a stranger deliberately harming them are extremely low, and they are more at risk from road traffic or accidents in the home. However, it is still a good idea to teach children some family safety rules, including how to protect themselves - without making them frightened of everyone or going into too much detail about the dangers. The following are some suggestions as recommended by the Child Accident Prevention Trust:

Tell your child not to talk to anyone they do not know well when they are out.
They should never go anywhere, with anyone, without telling you or the adult in charge who is in charge of them.
They should always tell you if someone approaches them. Young children need to be reassured that nothing bad will happen if they tell you about anyone who does approach them. Teach your children what to do if they ever get lost. Tell them to go to a police officer, someone working in a shop, or someone else who has young children with them.
Tell them not to wander too far from where they last saw you.
Keep your child close to you. If you have a baby in a pram or buggy, don't leave it parked while you shop. Watching it through the window is not enough. If a shop won't let you take the buggy inside, either use another shop or take the child out of the buggy.
Don't leave your baby in the charge of another child. A baby needs an adult to look after him or her.
Use reins for toddlers. If you start using them before they're quite steady, they will prevent some falls and the child will regard them as friends. Don't assume that holding hands is just as good. A toddler's tiny hand can slip through your fingers if he's trying to escape.
With all children, teach them their address and telephone number, so that they can be brought back to you more easily if they get lost. In addition, write their name and address on a piece of paper and put it in their pocket or bag.