Are you looking to move? The biggest caveat of moving into a strange neighborhood is fretting over all sorts of unimaginable predicaments that may befall your children and teens while you are not around to protect them. Even if you reign in your imagination, they can still meet all the wrong sorts of people, get lost in an unfamiliar area, or venture into a shady zone. Here are a few safety tips to help your family painlessly move into a new neighborhood:
Caution Your Kids
If you have small children, make sure they learn their telephone number, new home address, and their full name as early as possible. Walk with your children for the first few days of school, until they become entirely familiar with the route. In addition, be sure to visit their school prior to the first day to garner an understanding of the environment. If your children have to ride the bus to school, take them to the bus stop and make them learn the bus number. Remind your children not to stray alone but keep close to the other kids on the stop. Ask them to report any confusing or unusual incident to you.
Walk Your Children Through The Neighborhood.
To help your children recognize the main roads and streets in the vicinity by landmarks and names, take them on a walking tour of the neighborhood. Determine a safe spot where they can seek assistance if they ever get in trouble or get lost. Caution your kids against taking shortcuts and make sure they always stay on the main roads. Draw a map with your children of all the acceptable routes to the stores, playground, the school, and other locations they are allowed to visit. Until they are well drilled in confidently navigating their way around, it’s recommended they keep the map with them.
By investing the time in walking around the neighborhood together, you and your family will get more acquainted with the area and better comprehend which areas are off limits. Parents should use the walking tour as a chance to establish boundaries on where their children are allowed to go on their own. Voice your concerns about hanging out in questionable areas and crossing busy intersections. Seeing the neighborhood firsthand would help your family respond better to restrictions.
Introduce Your Kids To Neighbors
To settle in to your new neighborhood, you need to nurture friendly relations with your neighbors. Also make a point of introducing your kids to your neighbors, especially the ones which strike you as most reliable and preferably having children of their own. This would provide a good opportunity for your kids to meet other children their age.
Know Who to Call in an Emergency
As soon as you move in your new home, list all the local emergency telephone numbers by the telephone, where everybody can see them. If you obtained a new cellular telephone number or a pager, make sure your kids have these numbers at hand. Also list the numbers of any backup friend, family members, or trusted neighbors that your kids can contact if you are not available and they need assistance. If you are worried about your kids going off to places alone, you can consider giving them a cell-phone to take along and inform you of their location.
Keep Tabs on who your children Befriend
Once your kids have settled into the neighborhood and made new friends, remind them to inform you and check where they are going before they head out with their new found pals. This includes going into the homes of strangers or getting into their cars. Talk to them about never accepting rides from a stranger or letting their new friends take them to unknown places. In addition, advise your children against inviting new friends at home in your absence, until they are assured of them.
Establish Safety Rules for Home Alone Kids
Remind your children not to answer doors without asking first when they are home alone. In fact, your children should be wary of opening the doors at all to strangers. It’s also imperative to redefine the word “stranger” to your kids. For instance, even though the mailman comes everyday, which doesn’t technically make him a stranger, the kids shouldn’t open the door for him in your absence.
In addition, caution your children about giving out personal information on the phone, especially if they don’t identify the caller. Ask them to simply request the caller to leave a message. Also, teach your children the necessity of keeping the doors and windows locked at all times, and ask them never to leave the key in the lock. Most people make the mistake hiding the spare keys under obvious places which the burglars are well acquainted with. If you have burglar alarms installed, give out the code to your kids but prohibit them from ever confiding in a stranger. Teaching these basic safety tips would protect your children from falling prey to dangers and perils.
Reassure Your Children
Reassure your children that you are always here to lend a listening ear if they need assistance fitting in, or simply to discuss the new experience. Let them know you trust their instincts and judgment and encourage them to go to a trusted adult if anyone makes them feel baffled, uncomfortable, or confused in anyway.
Identify a Safe House
Once you become familiar with your neighbors, choose a neighbor’s house where your kids can turn to in emergency situations if you are not available. A house where a retired person or a stay at home parent resides is a great idea, they are more likely to be home. Practice a few drill runs with your kids to the safety house, so they automatically know who to turn to in times of need.
If you are looking for a family-friendly neighborhood in Toronto, contact the Toronto Condo Team today to find the perfect neighborhood to move in with kids.
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