Sometimes parents or guardians are too careless with the care or the supervision of their young children. They think just because the child is in the backyard that no one has access to her/or him, or that the child can't get into immediate life threatening situations in a brief second of time. This is a fallacy. Children are innately curious, and can and do get into dangerous situation very quickly. Things to do to keep your children safe.

Keep an eye open: If your children are in the back of the house, or backyard make sure that you have easy visibility of them at all times. If you need to leave, make sure that someone responsible is with them. Don't leave them in the yard, or don't leave her or him alone even for a moment if you have machinery on, such lawn equipment, a washer machine or dryer that they can get into. It sounds impossible but a child can climb into a washer machine or dryer without supervision and immediately be in trouble.

Never underestimate: Many parents are surprised by a child's agility, intelligence, or ability for his or her age. For an example just because your back gate is locked doesn't mean that the child will not be able to maneuver it open, or figure a way out of an enclosed place. Also many predators do not mind that a gate is locked, if they want to steal a child, they will wait for an opportunity and unlock or jump a fence, quickly move in and be gone in a moment. Don't risk it.

Know where children are walking: I have seen very young children and adolescents walking, riding a bike, or on a pair of roller skates that they can't maneuver very well, unaccompanied by any adults on major routes, or isolated streets, or worse near isolated parks or industrial sites. Children in this situation become easy and quick targets for predators in cars, or vans. Don't let them be another snatch and grab statistic. Tell them to stay close to your home or yard, and insist that they stay off these major areas.

Back up and Protection: It is important for young children and young adults to know that you are in their corner. That when something becomes very challenging, they will have someone to support them and back up their choices and they will not be left alone. Also children need to feel safe, and it is the adult's job to provide supervision not just to them but to be aware of everyone that is around them and what they are doing with your child. Don't just assume that the child is safe with someone that the family knows, or with other family members. Make sure that the child is safe and that they can tell you when they are not. If a situation does occur with a relative or a family friend, or even another child, take immediate steps to separate the child from that situation and make sure that it never happens again. That way the child will know that this was not her fault and that you will not allow someone else to hurt her. copyright 2006 Yoga Kat