This world of technology is sometimes incredibly overwhelming, especially for a parent with children. The internet offers countless opportunities for them to connect with people they probably shouldn’t be talking to. Worrying about what your kid is doing online–and who they’re talking to–is normal.

But sometimes we get so caught up in keeping our kids safe online that we forget that safety in the real world is just as important. Many of us will give them general safety tips, such as “Don’t talk to strangers.” But there’s so much more to it than that now.

It’s Not Paranoia

Before I continue, I need to tell you that these tips are not born out of paranoia. They’re born out of concern. The reality is: bad things happen to children every day. They are snatched, injured, molested, or worse. And clearly you want to prevent that from happening as much as possible.

The best defense you can have is by educating your child. Don’t just tell them what to do, show them. Children learn better through repetition and visual aids. So telling them “Don’t talk to strangers,” should be followed by something tangible that will help them to remember.

How to Educate Your Children On Safety

Visual aids don’t have to be flashcards. They can be just as simple as a practice scenario. I recommend this because it makes children interact with you. The more they do it, the more real it becomes to them. When the time comes, they will know what to do, and they will do it.

This is called prevention education. It’s the same concept that they use with fire drills: practice what happens if there is a fire. Then, when one breaks out, you’ll know what to do, and you’ll follow through.

Here’s a list of prevention education topics you can cover with your kids:

• What to do if a stranger tells you to come with them
• How to respond to an adult who tries to force you to do something the child isn’t comfortable with
• What to do if your child gets lost
• What should you do in case of an emergency like a fire or if you think someone is breaking into your home
• What your child should do if they’re home alone by themselves

Let’s focus on that last one a bit.

Your child should know his way around your home. I’m not talking about where the bathroom is or how to get downstairs. He should know how to lock the windows and doors, how to call the police, or what to do if the power goes out.

If you have a home security system, your child needs to know how to operate it. Give them the code. Explain to them which buttons to push and why. Explain to them what types of alarms the system uses, and why. You can find an excellent article about carbon monoxide poisoning at Security Choice (http://www.securitychoice.net/). This is something every family should know about, including your children.

Is that really a lot to ask of a child? No. You keep your house safe while you’re away. Your child is much more important than your house. In an emergency, your child needs to know what to do in case you aren’t around to help or guide them – for whatever reason.

Adjusting Education for Your Child’s Age

Of course, you don’t want to overwhelm your child. If they aren’t old enough to learn or retain these things, don’t teach it to them. But once they begin going to school, you’ll need to emphasize the importance of them staying safe. Do your practice scenarios until you’re sure they’ve got it. As they get older, don’t stop. Reinforce how important it is. You can go over those same scenarios, adjusting them to your child’s age and circumstances.

Go over the scenarios regularly. As they get older, you may want to make it less frequent, but still frequent enough for them to remember. For example, you may start going over these scenarios on a weekly basis when your child is six. When they turn 7 or 8, you may do it every month. When they turn 10, you may do it every two months. When they’re 12, you may do it quarterly. When they turn 14, you may do it twice a year.

At each of these stages you want to adjust for their age and circumstances. As your children become teens, you may want to add topics about refusing drugs and alcohol, or similar topics. Doing this keeps the lines of communication open for your child, and helps keep them safe from harm. More importantly, they will love and trust you even more, because they’ll know you have their best interests at heart.