Essential Safety Tips You Can Teach Your Child Today

Our children are our most precious treasures. As parents, we naturally want to keep them safe. But it’s easy to assume that schools or other organisations are teaching them how to stay safe in the real world. The reality? Many children are still overly trusting — and when we stop and talk to them, we realise how little they actually know.

We simply can’t afford to take that chance. That’s why it’s so important that safety lessons come from us. The good news is, it doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming. In just a few minutes a day, you can begin teaching your child life-saving awareness, practical decision-making skills, and the confidence to act when it matters most.

Before we teach how to react in a dangerous situation, we need to teach our children how to spot one in the first place. Here are four simple awareness strategies every child should know. Use your eyes: encourage your child to look around and take notice of who’s nearby, where the exits are, and anything that feels out of place. Use your ears: help them listen for voices, footsteps, alarms, shouting, or sudden silence — sounds often give clues that something isn’t quite right. Use your feelings: teach them to trust their instincts. If something feels wrong, it probably is. And finally, use your brain: talk through everyday scenarios and help your child think ahead — what they’d do if something didn’t seem right.

Now let’s look at five practical safety tips. First, teach your child the stranger rule. Help them understand that a stranger isn’t just someone they’ve never met — it’s anyone they haven’t been given permission to talk to. Even someone who seems friendly or familiar could be unsafe. Practise a simple phrase like, “I need to ask my mum or dad first,” and role-play different situations together.

Second, play the “what if?” game. Ask questions like, “What if you got lost in a shop and didn’t have your phone?” or “What if someone you don’t know offered you a treat or a lift?” Guide them to come up with strong answers like, “Find a worker and stay in one place,” or “Say no, step back, and get to someone safe.”

Third, teach the safe distance rule. Help your child understand how close is too close when they feel unsure about someone. Use cones or chalk at home to practise keeping a safe space — so they always have room to think, move, or act if needed.

Fourth, encourage them to trust their feelings. Children are often told to be polite, even when something feels off. But their instincts are powerful. Let them know it’s okay to say no, or move away, even if the other person is an adult. Teach them this phrase: “If it feels wrong, it probably is.”

Fifth, teach the stay-put strategy. If your child ever gets lost, they might panic or wander around. Instead, give them a clear plan. Go to the front of the shop or stand near a till — and never go outside or into a back room. Show them the “safe spot” every time you arrive somewhere new.

The key is to make these tips part of everyday life. On the school run, talk about who you see and what you’d do if you got separated. At the park, practise safe distance and talk about gut feelings. On shopping trips, review the stay-put plan and always pick a safe place together when you arrive.

Taking just a few minutes a day to teach safety helps your child feel more confident — and gives you peace of mind knowing they’re prepared, not just lucky. And if you’ve found this helpful, it’s just the beginning of what we offer in the Path Keepers Program — a complete framework for raising children who are not only safer, but fitter, more respectful, and ready for life’s challenges.

If you’re ready to join us, click the button below to get started today. Or, if you’d prefer to have a quick chat first, use the calendar link to book a call with me. I’d love to hear from you. I’m Sensei Malcolm — or just Malcolm — and I look forward to helping you soon.