Be Safe!

Developmental Milestones

Knowing where your child should be developmentally will help you continue to foster a safe environment for you child.

• Now that your child likes to be independent, is walking up and down stairs, playing rough, learning to ride a bicycle, and cutting with scissors, there are all kinds of new hazards to watch out for! Make sure your child has the protection she needs (such as a bicycle helmet and knee pads, and blunt scissors made for preschoolers) to keep her safe in her new activities.
• Meet the parents of your child's friends and make sure you feel comfortable with your child in their home or in their care. Also make sure your child care or preschool is a place where both you and your child feel safe, emotionally and physically.
• As your child begins to understand the difference between “real” and “pretend,” and is learning to understand emotions such as sadness, happiness, and anger, talk to your child about proper ways to express emotions.
• Pay attention to the images your child sees on television and in movies. Violence and action that adults are used to seeing will frighten children. Preschoolers are still learning the differences between real and pretend and how to regulate their emotions. Scary television shows and movies can lead to nightmares, distrust, and feelings that they may not understand.

Preschooler Safety Checklist

• Are chemicals, medications, and other substances that could be harmful to your child out of reach? Are they out of reach when your child goes to friends’ and relatives’ houses?
• Do you feel comfortable with your child care provider?
• Does your child care provider or baby-sitter know what to do in case of an emergency?
• Do you have emergency phone numbers next to the phone?
• Playing is a basic way your child learns. Are your toys age-appropriate?
• If your child is learning to ride a bicycle, scooter, or rollerblade, does he have a helmet? Does it fit correctly? 
• Do you know how to recognize signs of child abuse? Do you know how to prevent it?
• If you own a gun, is it locked away and far from your child’s grasp? Is the ammunition locked separately?