ATHABASCA – Summer break is almost here; the long awaited freedom from school means kids will be spending more time outdoors, whether they’re walking to a friend’s house, biking to the corner store, or learning how to kick-flip at the local skatepark.
With all that extra time outside, the local RCMP are reminding parents that now is a great time to check in with kids about how they can stay safe and be aware of their environment.
Athabasca RCMP Const. Kyle Hotchkiss said it’s important for kids to have the confidence to recognize unsafe spots and to be able to trust their gut instincts when something doesn’t feel write.
“Having open, age-appropriate conversations about boundaries, decision making, and what to do when something feels wrong can go a long way in preparing kids for real-life scenarios,” wrote Hotchkiss in a May 19 press release.
Where does that conversation start? Hotchkiss recommends reminding kids not to go anywhere with someone they don’t know. No matter how nice a stranger seems, tell kids to walk away and seek help from someone they trust.
Equally important is building agency in kids to say no; Hotchkiss recommended letting kids know that no adult should ever ask them to do something that makes them feel uneasy.
“It’s okay to say no and remove themselves from the situation.”
While it’s common to know more of your neighbours in a small town than in a city, Hotchkiss said it’s a good idea to identify safe adults with kids, including teachers, family members, and neighbours. Walk or bike common routes with your kids and show them safe locations they can go if they need help.
While it might seem like a cliché, encouraging kids to stick with their friends or siblings outdoors does help — as Hotchkiss pointed out, there’s always greater safety in numbers.
The RCMP also recommend going through “what-if” scenarios with kids to help them think through different things that might happen. If they have a cell phone, teach them how to use emergency call functions, and make sure they know their full name, address, parent or guardian contact info, and how to describe their location to 911 if need be.
