Keeping our children and teens safe is a shared responsibility. Together, we can keep our youth informed, protected, and safe.

Helpful Child and Teen Safety Resources

The following resources may be helpful to parents, teachers, or young people who wish to learn more about child and teen safety:

Talk to Your Children, Create Positive Experiences, and Build Life Skills

The concept of a 'stranger' can be difficult for some children to understand. We suggest the following safety habits are provided to help keep your kids safe:

  • Make sure your child/children know their full name, age, address, and telephone number with area code. Teach children not to go anywhere with anyone without first getting permission from a parent/ guardian.
  • Teach children to always have a buddy with them
  • Practice scenarios with your child/children. Ask them what they would do if someone approaches them, asks them for help, says their parent sent them, etc.
  • Discuss what to do if your child becomes lost or separated from a parent while out in public
  • Teach your child/children that if they need help, they should look for a police officer, store clerk with a nametag, or a parent with children
  • Encourage your child/children to tell a parent or trusted adult if someone approaches them or if a situation makes them uncomfortable
  • Teach your child/children to trust their instincts and the importance of paying attention to their surroundings
  • Discuss what to do if someone tries to take them somewhere - shouting, kicking, screaming. Use the slogan: "If asked to go and your parents don't know, SHOUT NO!"
  • Teach older children how to stay safe when home alone
  • Listen carefully to your child's fears and feelings about places, people, or experiences that make them feel scared or uneasy
  • Let your child/children know that they can tell you anything and that you will be supportive
  • Encourage your child/children to trust their instincts