How to keep Small Children safe in public and with friends.

Keeping Small Children safe in public places and with friends.

When I was a young girl, it was safe to go look in the toy isle of your local store. However with the changing times and increased abductions, parents have gone to radical ways of keeping our children safe. In our area 2 weeks ago a man was unsuccessful of abducting a small girl. He even told he judge what he had planned to do to the child. Yes, it would have been every parents worse nightmare.

Last night on our local news, a 70 year old man was arrested after a child came forward over him molesting her.. 3 more have come forward since then and the investigation is ongoing.

On just those 2 local events, I have decided to publish my ways of how I keep my children safe in public places.

1. Start young

It is never too early to teach your children that there are people out there that are not nice. However, they might not understand at very early ages.

2. Mean what you say, and say what you mean!

When my children were old enough to walk beside the shopping cart I devised a rule. Both my children are only months apart. Rule Number One.. One hand on the shopping cart at all times. If you walk away from the shopping cart.. hold their hands. Have them walk with you! Involve them in picking up items.

For instance: A regular day of shopping would include me and both children, each with a hand on the cart.. and me pushing the cart.. When we stop the cart to pick up a item.. I have them come with me and point to what I need and tell them. They in turn pick it up and put it in the shopping cart.

Now, I have been asked how I devised this. The first time trying to incorporate this was not a easy process. I did warn them before we even went in that if they did not obey the rules we would leave everything there and go home. It only took one time of doing just that till they understood, I meant what I said.

3. Reward good behavior!
Implement rewards when they follow the directions of shopping! I can be anything from a piece of candy, a small toy, gum.. Praise them as they learn the rules of shopping.

Now on to the next issue.. Friends.
It is impossible to always know what goes on in the house of a friend that our children play with. It is very important to check this out. I develop friendships with the parents of my children's friends. Do not always assume that every parent is as conscious as you are in health, entertainment etc. I know kids in Elementary school that have done drugs and alcohol because they knew where their parents keep it at. Easy access of these elements intensifies the temptation and pressure set forth by other children.

Check up on your kids

There is nothing wrong with making a surprise visit to make sure you children are safe. Any decent parent would understand the need to check in on a play date.

Lastly
Teach your children right wrong.. and consequences to wrong..and the benefits of right. Be a example for them.

As kids watch us as parents, they are learning future behavior. For instance, kids will often mimic how you do or say different things in your every day life. If they will mimic how you toss your head to the side to remove hair out of your eyes, they will mimic even those distasteful things we do as well.

I once talked to a mom at our local bus stop, and her language was littered with profanity in front of her 2 year old little girl, however when the little girl repeated those words she had used, she became very angry at her. Yet.. this is what that little girl was learning in the home.

Morals begin in the home. Morals begin with the parent... Morals are taught.. and learned..

How Many Times has this happend to you?

How many times has this happened you to?

You sit down with your family to watch a show, or movie that looks great. Your young children are sitting around and out of nowhere adult humor leaves your jaw on the ground.

However... right in the middle of Church on Sunday, your child remembers that phrase and asks you what it means?

Now, I know that seems humorous to you, but sadly it happens every day. Let us talk about this little problem.

Have you ever wondered what happened to the good clean old shows of yesteryear? I know I have.

Let us take a little scenario. There is a new item on the market, however you and a few handful of people like it. As it does not bring in the revenue to produce this item, the stores will discontinue this very item.

This rings true with movies and television shows we watch today. The time we sit down to TV, or movies that HAS the nudity, profanity, adult themes, we are supporting that very thing. Let us face it, Hollywood keeps close track on what sells. That is called ratings. When the ratings are high, they tend to produce more of those kind of movies and entertainment.

With that said, why are we supporting this by watching it? As Christ lives in us, we are subjecting his Sweet Holy Spirit to take in that trash, supporting the content. If no one goes to see a good movie, or a good clean show is not watched, to them, why bother making it. To them it would be a waste.

So on to my next question.
How can we as Christians fight the suggestive content in TV and on the big screen.
That is where it gets easy, simply do not go to see it. Do not turn on that channel. Plain and simple as that.

Some parents ask me how they can be certain what their children watch when they are not at home. The answer is simple. You teach them now! It is never too young to teach your children right and wrong with the TV. My children comes to me to change the channel if something is not right for them. Sit down with your children and even point out what is wrong and tell them "WHY" it is wrong. "Why" God would not be pleased with it.

Finally, we as Christians need to band together in prayer. We can truly make a difference.