Simple, everyday safety for kids and parents

Try these practical tips for parents and children to help them adopt safety habits at home, at school and online.

Maintaining open communication, establishing trust-based safety protocols, and continuously adapting to new threats posed by technology are key to keep your children safe. Here are some tips to help keep your children safe while they are out and about, as well as tips to help you navigate digital safety: 

For children:

1. Walk in groups: Always walk to and from school with friends. Stick to familiar, populated routes and avoid shortcuts through alleys, open fields, or vacant lots.
2. Avoid distractions: Keep mobile devices and tablets out of sight to avoid attracting attention.
3. Secure school pickups: Children should wait inside school grounds for their lift and never leave with anyone who hasn’t been pre-approved.
4. Stranger danger rules: Reinforce that children should never accept rides from strangers—even if the stranger claims there’s an emergency involving a parent.
5. Use a family password: Establish a security word only known to you and your child. If someone can’t repeat it, the child must seek help immediately.
6. Responding to threats: If someone tries to grab them, teach them to scream, kick, and resist loudly to draw attention and attempt to escape.
7. Observation skills: If they witness something suspicious, train them to notice the suspect’s appearance, vehicle, and any details that could assist authorities later.
8. Emergency awareness: Children should memorise their full name, home address, and key contact numbers. Practice dialing 10111 using a toy phone. For older children, preload emergency numbers or install a safety app like Namola or Life360.

Parental guidance for digital safety:

1. Limit oversharing: Avoid posting children’s personal details, locations, or daily routines online.
2. Educate on fake profiles: Teach children how criminals use false identities to build trust online before attempting to lure them.
3. Check-ins, not spying: Have regular, open conversations about their social media usage. Where necessary, review their apps and messages to ensure safety boundaries are respected.

If your child ever goes missing or you witness suspicious activity, report it immediately to SAPS at 10111 or contact a child protection organisation like Missing Children SA. Find out more from Fidelity Services Group.