10 Crucial Safety Rules Every Parent Should Teach Their Child

Now this one’s tricky.  

We don’t want our children to be afraid of everyone, but we also want them to know how to be cautious.  

So how do we explain it? 

You could say: “If someone you don’t know tries to talk to you, don’t go anywhere with them. Even if they say it’s about a lost puppy or that your mom told them to pick you up.” 

And then add, “But if you ever feel unsafe, it’s okay to talk to a police officer, a teacher, or another mom with kids.” 

The goal is to not raise paranoid kids. It’s to raise smart ones who understand boundaries. We want to teach them how to read situations and trust their instincts is part of solid safety education. 

This is a conversation that often makes parents feel awkward, but it shouldn’t be.  

Use proper names for body parts from the start. Let your child know that their body belongs to them, and no one has the right to touch them in a way that makes them uncomfortable. 

Explain what a “safe touch” and an “unsafe touch” might look like in age-appropriate language. And remind them: if anyone ever makes them feel weird or confused, they can come to you no matter what. 

This is a key part of personal safety. And the earlier we introduce it, the more confident our children will be in speaking up if something ever feels off. 

This ties into the last point.  

Some adults (and sadly, even other kids) manipulate children by telling them, “It’s our little secret.” 

That’s why we teach our kids: if someone tells you to keep a secret from your parents or says you’ll get in trouble if you tell, that’s exactly when you must tell. 

You can explain it like this: “There are good secrets, like birthday surprises. But if a secret makes you feel scared, weird, or worried, it’s never okay to keep it.” 

This message builds trust. It reassures your child that no matter what, they can come to you without fear. 

Every environment comes with its own set of rules.  

At home, it could be not playing with electrical outlets, keeping away from the stove, or not opening the door when an adult isn’t around.  

At school, it’s about listening to teachers during fire drills, not leaving the campus without permission, or reporting bullying. 

Make a list of common situations your child faces daily, and talk through the safest way to handle each one. 

You can ask questions like: “What would you do if you were home alone and someone rang the bell?” or “What if your friend asked you to go outside the school gate during recess?” 

Discuss, don’t lecture.  

Let them speak. Their answers might surprise you and open doors for better teaching moments. 

Even if you’re always holding their hand while crossing the street, kids need to understand the basics of road safety themselves. 

Use real-world moments to teach.  

Waiting at a traffic light? Point out the signals.  

Walking in a parking lot? Remind them to look around for reversing cars. 

A few rules to keep repeating: 

• Look left, then right, then left again. 

• Always use the pedestrian crossing. 

• Never run into the road after a ball or toy. 

The best way to teach this is by modeling it. Kids learn by watching, more than they do by listening. 

Intuition is a powerful tool. Kids have it too, but we often dismiss it.  

When they say, “I don’t like that person” or “That place felt scary,” listen. And teach them to listen to themselves. 

Tell them: “If something feels wrong, it probably is. It’s okay to walk away, say no, or come get me. You don’t have to be polite if you feel unsafe.” 

When we validate their feelings early, they learn to trust themselves. And that’s a skill they’ll carry with them for life. 

 

Whether it’s at a shopping mall, a busy park, or a crowded event, kids can get separated can happen in seconds. 

So ask your child: “What would you do if you couldn’t find me in a store?” 

Talk through the right steps: 

• Stay where they are (don’t start wandering around). 

• Look for a worker in uniform or someone at the counter. 

• Call out your name loudly if needed. 

• Never leave the building or area looking for you. 

You can even practice it.  

Next time you’re out, point out safe people to ask for help. Make sure they know it’s okay to speak up. 

No one likes thinking about worst-case scenarios.  

But the truth is, children need to know what to do if there’s a fire, earthquake, medical emergency, or even if someone in the house suddenly needs help. 

Start with basic fire safety at home: 

• Never hide during a fire. Always try to get out. 

• Crawl under the smoke, not through it. 

• Know at least two ways to exit your home. 

• Don’t go back inside for toys or pets, no matter what. 

Now extend that awareness to other situations.  

What if there’s an earthquake?  

Let them know to drop to the ground, take cover under a sturdy table, and hold on until the shaking stops.  

Talk through what to do if someone faints, chokes, or falls badly. Kids don’t need to know everything but they should know to stay calm and find an adult or call for help. 

And yes, teach them how to call emergency services. In India, the main numbers are: 

• 100 for police 

• 101 for fire 

• 102 for ambulance 

• Or just 112, the national emergency helpline that covers all services. 

Practice with them. Role-play calling 112, saying their name, your address, and what happened. Even if they’re young, they’ll remember with enough repetition. 

It might seem like a lot, but knowing what to do in those first few moments can make all the difference. 

This one is about empowerment.  

Kids are often taught to be polite, to listen to adults, and to avoid making a fuss. But sometimes, being polite isn’t safe. 

Teach them that it’s okay to say “No” loudly and clearly when they feel unsafe or uncomfortable, even if it’s to an adult, a relative, or someone in authority. 

Let them practice it with you.  

Make it a part of your parenting tips: “Let’s practice saying ‘No! Stop that!’ as if someone tried to grab your hand.” 

Do we want our kids to be kind? Yes, but not at the cost of their personal safety. 

Let’s be honest.  

Teaching these things doesn’t happen in one big talk. It’s not a checklist you go through and then you’re done. 

It happens in the little moments while walking to school, watching TV, cooking together, or after they come back from a friend’s house. That’s when we ask, “Hey, what would you do if…” and let the conversation flow from there. 

Every child learns differently. Some might pick things up right away. Others need to hear it ten times.  

That’s okay.  

You’re not trying to scare them. You’re building habits, confidence, and self-awareness. 

And don’t worry about getting the words perfect. What matters most is that your child knows they can talk to you, that their safety matters, and that you trust them to learn and grow. 

We can’t control every environment our kids are in. But we can prepare them.  

And these safety rules for kids at home and school aren’t about making them anxious. They’re about making them confident. 

When we talk openly about things like road safety, personal boundaries, and stranger danger, we’re showing them that safety is something we take seriously. Why? Because they, our kids, are important. And with time, these lessons will stick. 

Let’s keep these conversations going.  

Not just once, but always. Because our kids are always growing and so are their needs. The more we stay involved, the more they’ll come to us when it matters most.