With school starting up for another year, there will be an increase of children walking and riding bikes to school, and OPP want to remind parents that they have an important role to play in ensuring their children's safety.
"The obvious conversation that parents should have with their children is to teach them about stranger danger," says Constable Adam Gauthier. "Strangers don't always have a rough appearance and can appear to be perfectly normal.
"Parents and children need to also be aware of the dangers of talking to strangers online. Parents are encouraged to talk with their children about the potential threats they may encounter when using the Internet, social media, email and their mobile devices. Inform them that they can trust you and that they should not deal with this issue alone."
Here are some important tips for children and their parents.
Safety tips for children:
- Know your name, address and phone number
- Learn how and when to call 911
- If you are scared of someone, run to safety
- Avoid any shortcuts when you are walking from one place to another
- Have a "call list" and know how and when to use it
- Let your parents know where you plan to be
- Never talk to people online without your parents' permission
Tips for parents
- Work hard to establish trust and communication with your children
- Make sure you know how to find or contact your children at all times
- Take an active role in your children's activities
- Be aware of which social media platforms and apps your children are using.
To learn more about safety measures for your children, you can visit the following websites:
NeedHelpNow - Provides guidance on steps to take when dealing with cyberbullying and online exploitation.
