20 things about raising kids

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1. Know how to call 9-1-1. Practice it once a week.

2. Make a fire plan. If there was a fire in your house, would you and your children know what to do?

3. Take a field trip to your local fire station. Call your local fire station and set up a time to take your children and invite your friends.

4. Teach your children that no adult should need ask a child for help.

5. Teach your children to only eat candy with mom and dad’s permission. A lot of medications look like candy to young children.

6. Impress upon your children that no one should ever touch your child in their private areas unless it’s a doctor or nurse with mom and dad’s knowledge.

7. Impress upon your child that it is never too late to tell someone if something bad happens such as bullying or unauthorized touching.

8. Make sure your children know mom and dad’s full name is and the home address.

9. Street safety lessons should be reviewed once a month. Looking both ways before crossing streets, holding hands, and general awareness of cars, driveways, crosswalks and intersections.

10. Teach your children to be helpful and kind to children with disabilities

11. Show your child or children to understand and use a product for its intended purpose. Experimentation is good but not when it comes to certain household cleaning products. Keep them in child proof cupboards.

12. A child is a person, not an object of concern who simply lacks the capacity to give consent on her own behalf. Teach your children to think.

13. Don’t be shy or afraid to answer your child’s question about “where did I come from?” and “why are girls different from boys?”.

14. Teach empathy and care. A child who is empathetic will treat animals and less fortunate children with kindness and care.

15. Get to know the parents at households where your child spends time.

16. Don’t leave your child with anyone, even a relative unless you completely trust them. Many cases of sexual and child abuse are instigated by a family member.

17. Every child should know how to swim and be provided regular lessons in water safety.

18. Bullying is a major problem and can start at an early age. Have ongoing discussions with your children about bullying and the need to report any instances where they are bullied or know someone who is being bullied. Reporting a bully is NOT ratting someone out.

19. There is no substitute for supervision and knowing what's going on in your child's life, but as your child becomes increasingly independent, he'll need to be aware of his own instincts about what's safe, and follow them. The parent is the guiding light.

20. Listening keeps you connected and helps your child feel safe. But it also helps your child talk to you more, and when you get kids talking about something, they're thinking about it.