Protecting Your Children: Preschool

[By Dr. Marlene Dalley Senior Research and Programs Developer RCMP Missing Children's Registry. Provided by The RCMP Missing Children's Registry.]

The protection of a preschool child is solely the responsibility of the parent or care giver. This responsibility cannot be abdicated. Preschool children need to play and learn in an environment where they feel safe and secure. Such environments contribute to a sense of security . children must trust parents and care givers to provide the supervision necessary to grow and mature. Erikson, a renowned theorist, identified trust, autonomy and initiative as critical to healthy personality development.

Preparing for the unsafe world comes after the child fees secure in the immediate home-school enforcement and has learned some basic skills of independence and survival. In addition, practicing making decision making skills and being reinforced for good choices further strengthens the child's sense of personal power. Such skills are necessary to react to a potentially dangerous situation, carefully, hence safely.

Research studies reveal that preschool children are less likely to show appropriate behavior in a threatening situation. Assuming the basic responsibility for preschool children rests with the adult care giver, some supportive guidelines are presented.

These are as follows

1. Screen persons well who care for your children. Young children cannot evaluate adult intentions.

2. Praise and reinforce decision making skills. Talk about good and bad decisions, their outcomes and suggest alternatives. For example, :That was not a good decision to run away from your yard and play in the park. You could have been lost. Next time come and ask me and I'll take you to the park to play for awhile."

3. Encourage your child to make daily decisions such as, what books to read, which sweater to wear, and which toys to select for play.

4. Teach the rules of social conduct early. Greeting grandparents with hugs and kisses are important but such actions are not appropriate responses to strangers. Reinforce that it is acceptable to politely say "I don't want to be picked up and hugged!"

5. Teach children not to wander off in public places. Discipline firmly if this happens and discuss the consequences. Remember, children who are part of the activity or have something to do are more likely to stay with you. Bring along some reading materials, toys or have the child put the groceries in the cart.

6. Teach the simple facts to respond to an emergency. Facts such as: name, address, telephone number, name of place where parents work or name of day care service, etc. young children will have difficulty learning and remembering these facts so reteach often with patience and perseverance.

7. Talk about and identify "Safe Houses" in your neighbourhood. Occasional parent and child walk will familiarize your child with the neigbourhood.

8. Show affection and love. Knowing the true feelings of love makes it easier to identify unwanted advances. As well, it helps the child feel secure and protected.

9. Never leave small children unattended in a car even if the car is locked. Children have been known to perish in a locked car due to fire or gas inhalation; have been abducted with a stolen car attempt; and have opened the car and wandered off.

10. Never give an infant or small child to a person not known well even if it is just to hold your child or watch your child for a few minutes. This is a potentially dangerous situation.

In summary, providing a safe and stimulating environment for young children requires parental guidance and supervision at all times.