Child Safety Week is an annual community education campaign run by Child Accident Prevention Trust (CAPT) in the UK. It is a brilliant initiative that should be done everywhere. For 2021, it will hold between 7th – 13th June. The theme for 2021 is, “Share because you care”. This is so apt. If every adult committed to sharing child safety tips with the child or adults who have children in their care, it would go a long way to reduce avoidable accidents affecting children.
Activities are a great way to make the children a part of the process and to internalise their learning. Here are some activity ideas for you. They can be implemented by both teachers and parents.
1) Drama presentation
2) Debates
3) Book reading sessions
4) Poetry recitation
5) Short speaking presentation
How can this be implemented?
As a class teacher,
1) Pick a topic, teach on it and give them a group task that can be presented to the class
2) Teach a single tip on any area of child safety each day
3) Give an assignment that causes them to research, learn and share their findings with you
As a school owner,
1) Every day throughout child safety week, a safety topic should be taught during assembly
2) Each class can be assigned to prepare a presentation on different topics. Presentations will be made at a communal school event so that everyone learns something new from other classes
3) Invite a safety professional
As a parent, you do not have to wait for the school. Consider the following:
1) Having a conversation with your child
2) Playing a safety game (check out our Safety CheckUp game)
3) Reading a child safety story book with your child (check out our child safety story book series)
4) Giving your children a project on a safety topic and asking them to present to the family during a family bonding time
Things to note
1) You do not have to break the bank. Keep it simple and fun
2) You do not have to do everything. If all you do is one of the points, it’s better than doing nothing
3) There are many points not mentioned here because this is just a guide to get your creative juices flowing
We share because we care. We share because it breaks the cycle of ignorance. We share because an empowered child can act right in an unsafe situation.
Plan to do something for Child Safety Week 2021. Remember, don’t speak “at” the children instead involve them in the process so that they can internalise the knowledge. You must always seek ways to share safety knowledge with children.
Share with others.
