Children under three can’t always understand or remember safety advice, so they need to have an adult nearby at all times.
From the age of three, children can start learning how to do things safely but will sometimes forget, especially if they’re excited or distracted. Even if they repeat your instructions back to you, they may not have understood them or be able to follow the instructions all the time.
Children copy other people. If you, your family or their friends do risky things, they'll think it’s acceptable and normal. Tell your child that if they feel uncomfortable and are being told to do something silly or dangerous, it’s fine to say no. Encourage them to talk to you if this happens.
There are a few basic things you can teach even young children to help keep them safe:
- Teach your child their surname as early as you can.
- Teach them their address as soon as they're old enough to remember it.
- Once they’re old enough to understand danger, teach them what 999 means and how to call it, especially if you're epileptic, diabetic, blind or have any condition that means they may need to call for help. Young children may need to be taught what a ‘9’ looks like.
- Teach them to stay where they are if they get lost (for example, when you’re out shopping) and to tell a mummy who has other little girls or boys with them. This is safer than telling them not to talk to adults at all and risking them wandering off.
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