Re-thinking Child Safety Before the Twenties

It’s almost 2020 and it’s about time we step away from the traditional child safety methods. Stranger danger, bullies in the neighborhood or at school, and other last-decade worries. Don’t get me wrong – these are important topics that I’ve not only addressed with my kids and experienced for now over 20 years but still do.

And yes – I said over 20 years. Our children will always be our children and I still ask my boys to text me when they get home after we have a family dinner. I’ve lived the fears of abduction, the times they’ve come home and didn’t seem quite themselves – worrying about every little thing it could possibly be.

Now and Then

The fact is, many parents today didn’t have to walk to school over the mountains and in the snow five miles to school. We’ve all heard the stories from our grandparents or great grandparents. We dealt with face to face issues on a daily basis and have learned to teach our children about those – for the most part.

The Twenties

Next year, 2020, marks the decade of The Twenties. It’s the time that we as parents come to terms with the new dangers of the world and teach not only our childhood dangers but theirs. With the advancement of the internet along with all of the devices that connect our children to a vast array of new dangers, it’s important that those are not only addressed but monitored.

There are an endless amount of apps, games, websites, and technology devices that bring danger to a whole new level. Not to mention social anxiety and loneliness as a result of friendships being made online rather than face to face.

Our parents didn’t have to worry when we were born that a complete stranger could find us from millions of miles away. If you are a parent now – you do. Everything from what online games they play online or on a gaming system to their cellphones is a threat. Don’t get me wrong, all of these technological advancements have also given our children opportunities we did not have; however, handing over these devices and hoping for the best is also not the answer.

Let this be food for thought as we continue the series on re-thinking child safety for the next decade. Keep talking to your kids about the real-world threats and become familiar with all of the dangers that exist outside of tangible people and technology devices.

Grace Wells

Grace Wells grew up in the kind of town where no one locked their doors and parents felt safe letting their kids wander. Things have changed a lot since then. As a mother today, Grace has to worry about so much more than skinned knees and hurt feelings.

Grace believes the best way to keep kids safe is to stay informed. She hopes that her work at Kids Safety 101 makes a difference in children’s lives so that they can grow up as carefree as she did.

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