What can parents do to help keep their children safe in today's world?

Answer 1

I think that one of the most important things parents can do is to make their home a safe haven. No matter how hard you try, it is impossible to protect your children from everything. They go to schools where they are exposed to all kinds of inappropriate things. Their friends may or may not be good influences. They are attacked everyday by the media, whose only goal is to titilate and pressure. Children (as well as adults) need an escape from the constant hounding of the world. Where will this be if it's not in the home?

A home where the parents love and respect each other, and the children know it. A home where filth and violence are shielded from them. A home where the most important thing is love and understanding. A home where no one is ridiculed, and everyone is accepted.

Parents want to protect their children from drugs, from violence, from predators, and from dangerous and evil things. I really think a safe and happy home is the answer. If children are able to escape the world and be comfortable and safe at home, they will not need to look elsewhere for acceptance and escape. They will not need to turn to drugs as a way out. They will be better adjusted to deal with the problems of the modern world and communication between family members will be easier.

It may sound cheesy, but the family really is the foundation of society, and parents have the responsibilty to make their home a haven for their children, and give them at least one solid thing to hold to.

Answer 2

Big D and Bubba,

I'm not a parent yet, but will be one day and am very worried about the websites children are using on the web. There are many popular websites that can be harmful to teenagers. Finding more safe places for children to search and play on the Internet is becoming more of a neccesity for parents because of the amount of time our teens are on the web.
TeenWants.com is a new website that will be targeted mainly to kids ages 12 - 19. The site will offer daily news on everything from sports to fashion. There will also be a games section, somewhat like MSN or Yahoo Games. And much more!
The members of TeenWants Inc. believe this is a great idea that teens will love and a site in which parents can feel safe to allow their children to enjoy the interaction with other teens. TeenWants.com will allow teens the ability to do almost all of their normal internet use at one website, eliminating the chance of coming across potentially harmful material.

Answer 3

The world has gone crazy. It has changed so much in the last 10 years since I was a teen that I also wonder about that same question with my 6 year old son. Definately keep the communication lines open between you and your children. Let them feel safe by always knowing that they can talk to you about anything, good or bad. If children feel that they can't talk to their parents about the troubling things in their life, then they will be confused and have to deal with problems on their own, which isn't good/safe. Live in a safe place and let God take care of the rest.

Answer 4

You should keep them safe by normal means:
Always know where they are or where they're going, who they're riding with, etc.
Teach them the whole never talk to strangers and all that stuff if they're young.
The basics. And tell them you just care about them even if it sounds lame.
But don't make them live in a bubble! Let them have a life and experience the world! Because I think that keeping kids from the real world will only make it worse when they have to face it on their own. I mean i have a friend who's parents who totally do that and her brother wont even go on rides at the fair because they're not safe. It drives me nuts the stuff they do.

Answer 5

That is a loaded question! Even the closest supervision can not keep someone safe- think about the children in the Murray Federal building that were being taken care of and still not safe. Or the little boy sitting in his classroom when a car crashes through a wall and kills him. We can not wrap our kids in bubble paper and they will eventually get into risky and unsafe situations. If we educate and inform our children, lead by example, and maybe get to know our neighbors a little better,our kids may have a better chance of growing up.

Answer 6

This is a good question that is on the mind of every parent, I don't truely know the answer, but it is my belief that if you comunicate with your children, know where they are and who they will be with. you got a good start. listen to your kids conversations and pick up on subtle hints. if the child calls twice to see if they can stay the night with a friend and you gave them permission the first time they really want to come home and want you to bail them out.

Let them know that lieing will get them twice the trouble. so they will be less likely to hide things or try to cover things up.

talk to them honestly. let them know most people are good people. but some of them are bad and will hurt a little kid.
teach them that an adult stranger should never aproach them and if they do, they need to get away from that person.

They should also be taught to ask an adult for help if they need it.

Be open minded and understand that every kid messes up and the world will not end. normally what breaks the chain of communication is over reacting.

Get to know your kids friends. be willing to be the parent with the headache at the end of the weekend. You can not control what you are not present for.

keep kids busy they are less likely to find themselves in trouble. they get the social avtivity they crave and it is in a safe and structured inviroment. Sports, Band, Scouting,4 H all those programs are good and encourage parent involvement.

That is all you really can do. I wish there was more but in reallity, if you shelter your child to much, you are hurting your child. I have seen parents walk thier kids to their classroom when that child is in the fifth grade. kids make fun of the kids and make smart comments I have heard them over and over again.

There is no 100% guarentee when it comes to protecting your children, You just have to do what you can be involved in as much as you can and pray that it is enough.

Scary huh

Answer 7

To be honest with you keep very close eye on them- Make sure you know where they are and you know the parents of the child they are with and you know their plans- Todays world is not as safe as it was when I was little that's for sure. And I have a 14 year old and a 10 year old( both boys) they gripe and moan because I am "over protective" but I just tell them I would rather be that way and get griped at then not care and have something bad happen to them or because of them. I will listen to them gripe all their lives- one of these days they will see why

Answer 8

Parents can help to keep their kids safe in today's world by being there for their kids to answer questions and help them through tough situations. Parents also need to know their childrens friends and parents of those friends to form a cohesive group of adults that will look out for one another's children.

Answer 9

Parents in today's world can keep their children safe by knowing all they can about the dangers in their child's life. Depending on the child's age depends on how involved in their lives you need to be. I feel at all ages you should have a pretty darn good idea where they are at all times. I have a teenage son that got into some legal trouble and is now in a secure detention program. I wish I had been more nosy as to who he was with, where he was at and what he was doing. But as a single, working mother it was hard. Although, he had a cell phone and I was constantly calling to check on him.

I wish I had know more about the different activities that the young people are into and it may have prevented alot of problems.

Know what kind of drugs are out there that the teens are trying and know the signs of drug abuse. If I had known then my son would not have gotten into the trouble he did.

A word of warning about a drug my son got addicted to that I had no idea about. Coricidon Cough and Cold, an over the counter cold medicine that the youth are abusing almost took his life. They go by the street name "Triple C's" and they are so dangerous. You can find out tons of info on the Internet about this and other drugs.

Well, thanks Big D and Bubba for letting me get this message out about this one particular problem.

In conclusion, I would say the best way to keep children safe is to have a great line of communication with your child. Make them feel it is safe to talk to you about anything without being made to feel like you are judging them. Be their best friend but not their buddy. Remember you are the parent and they are the child. God gave them to us to protect and raise. We do know what is best for them. And above all pray for them every minute of every day.

Anna

Answer 10

It will be a challenge. I have an 18 month old and sometimes the thought scares me of the world she is being brought up in. My thought on it is to keep her aware of all the dangers there are in the world, and not to trust anyone. That is a sad thing for a child but you just never know with all the crazy people in this world. I have already had her finger prints taking, and keep an up to date photo of her with me. I think the best thing we can do as parents is educate our kids, and talk to them.