With rising crime rates, teach your children to be careful. Here are some lifesaving tips for sons and daughters.
As crime rates rise in the metros, it is important to teach your child some basic safety tips. In addition to enrolling your child in martial arts training if possible and giving her a mobile phone, here's what you should do.
Danger
Explain to your child that she should not rush into danger to help a friend in trouble. If she is equally helpless as her friend, both can be in trouble. Instead, if one escapes, it is better she calls for help.
Curfew
Well-meaning parents often insist their children be home at a certain time at night. If their child breaks the curfew, punishment is in store. What parents don't understand is that when their child has to get home quickly, she may drive faster or take shortcuts to reach home, which could prove dangerous. As far as possible, don't be so strict with regard to time. Explain to your child that you would like her home at a particular time, but it is far more important that she doesn't rush.
Sleepovers
Other parents disapprove of their daughters spending the night out with friends, and insist they return home to sleep, no matter what time. Understand that your daughter is far safer at night in the home of a friend, than she is on the roads, traveling. Speak to the parents of your daughter's friends if you must, but don't ban sleepovers.
Group
Always encourage your daughter to travel at night in a group. Safety lies in numbers. It is a misconception that a girl should always be with a boy to ensure safety. A single man can do nothing when confronted by a gang, or by armed men, and miscreants often target couples at night.
Movies
Although your child may enjoy going for the late night show of a movie,
doing so is not safe. If she must go for a late show, make sure she goes in a group of at least four to five people. In addition, some people have the habit of staying seated after a movie gets over, and moving out only when the crowd has dissipated. This is the worst thing you can do, especially after a late night show, as the car park can get deserted within minutes. Explain to your child the importance of leaving the hall with the crowd, and driving off without any delay. Speak to your child's friends about this as well, as your child will naturally not leave alone.
At home
Encourage your child to have her friends over from the onset, and do give her privacy. If your home becomes a meeting point for all friends, they may not feel the need to be out as much.
Sons
These safety tips are not just for daughters, but for sons as well. When your son is accompanying a young lady at night, he may not be the intended target, but gangsters with rape on their mind often assault or kill the man who is with the woman they are after. In addition, there is always a possibility that he can be mugged.
Do your own bit to discourage at least some crime by swearing to never, ever buy mobiles from the black market. One of the prime incentives for mugging a person is to get his phone to meet an unfortunately huge demand.
