Universal Kempo Karate Schools Association

Child Safety & Awareness - #1

Keeping your child safe when they are on a

Play Date

Every parent had heard the word play date and probably has had their child on one. The routine is usually the same! Your child comes home from school and says, "My friend Sara (or John) wants me to come over tomorrow after school for a play date. Can I go?" The parent's next response goes something like this: "I'll talk to or call Sara's (or John's) Mom and Dad and see if it is all right." My question to you is:

How well do you know the family and their home?

We want our children to first be safe and then have a great time. Here are a series of questions you should know before your child participates in a play date:

Have you ever been to or in your child's friend's home? Do they have a swimming pool? Do they live on the water? Are there steep stairs and/or safety railings? How well are they going to be supervised? We have all heard at least one horror story, probably more, of a child drowning when left alone for a short period of time.
Are any members of the family in law enforcement where there may be firearms in the home? If a child gets a hold of an unsecured gun, we all know accidents can happen.
Do they have pets? Dogs, cats, parrots, snakes... Oh my! Remember that any new person coming into a home is a stranger to any pet and also consider this if your child has allergies.
Older siblings - Do they have any and what are they like? Are their friends going to be over also? A point to remember is a high percentage of child molestations are done by older children, usually familiar to the victim.

We want our children to have a great time with their friends, but our responsibility is always to make sure they will be safe!

Would you lend your car to a person you don't really know... What about your child? Better safe than sorry.

Professor Garland R. Johnson

This page last updated: Tuesday, July 8, 2008 0:16