If you want to head out with your kids, you would know how much time you need to get everything sorted out. It goes from getting them ready, to getting yourself ready, to preparing the things that they would need for the rest of the day.
But sometimes we forget that what’s more daunting is taking care of them outside. A lot can go on in an uncontrolled environment, especially if you have uncontrollable kids. Things can get overwhelming easily with sudden surges of crowds and so much to be distracted by. While as guardians we want to ensure that nothing goes wrong, it is impossible to counter, or even be completely aware of all the potential dangers outdoors.
With the recent case of a toddler who died after a mirror fell on her at Jewel, we want to make sure you are equipped with precautions in mind to keep your children safe. Of course, bringing out a kid isn’t as simple as it sounds – but these tips may help you be more alert of your children’s surroundings.
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Kidnapping is rare in Singapore, but keeping a close eye on your children is still important outdoors. Compared to familiar territory like your home, a new environment that isn’t tailored for kids means less security and safety. Most of the furniture at shopping malls, for instance, aren’t child-proof, and can injure your children if not careful enough.
Perhaps you may even want to keep your children within reach. Even though ‘hovering’ is frowned upon by many, having your children close by you can sometimes mean having less distance to bridge if you want to pull them out of a dangerous situation. This also equates to more reaction time.
This goes without saying if you’re moving through a crowd, but we do let our guard down when they’re in sight. It’s not necessary to bind them by hand all the time, but if your child is active, it may be better for you to hold on to them as you go about your shopping. Keep in mind that children have a lot of energy and can sometimes be faster than you think!
Holding hands links you to your child, so you can’t leave without the other. This means it will be harder for your child to stray away from you without breaking the link and you noticing.
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Many accidents happen because the person is distracted and isn’t aware of the risks involved. Young children take some time to develop a good sense of assessing danger, so it’s best to keep them out of unplanned situations when you can. You can do this by simply keeping them engaged by constantly interacting with them or keeping them occupied with a toy or a book.
Keeping your children distracted with things they should rightfully pay attention to limits outside distractions that can cause them to wander. Definitely, exploration is crucial to a child’s learning – but one should always do it within the confines of safety, such as by doing it with you.
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Giving your child a talk on what to do and what not to do can help minimise unforeseen situations. This helps especially when you enter a new environment that your child was not exposed to before. For example, children tend to get excited entering a toy store, and can end up separating from you easily. Such stores also have complicated layouts with many aisles, making it hard for you to find your child once you’ve turned your back.
Telling your children prior to entering the store can help them to have fun while keeping safe. This could work, such as by getting them to inform you if they want to go somewhere else, or by asking them to stay within the same zone.
That said, it is important you take note of the location you are heading to beforehand as different places hold different levels of safety. Places with little or no obstruction such as long corridors can be very inviting to children who love to run around! On the other hand, store arrangements and displays can also pose as dangers to children, who may see them as obstacles to maneuvre around instead.
Such displays often are heavy or sharp at the edges, making them a real threat if they happen to injure themselves while moving around. Other locations also have other points to note, just like how a crowded place means you have to be more alert about your child’s whereabouts. Understanding your surrounding’s level of safety can help you protect your children from harm.
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