Raising Safe and Aware Kids: A Parent’s Guide to Teaching Safety at Home and in the Community
As parents and carers, we can’t be with our children every moment of the day, nor should we need to be. Our role isn’t just to protect them, but to equip them. One of the greatest gifts we can give our children is the knowledge and confidence to keep themselves safe, even when we're not there.
Some children pick up safety lessons quickly, while others need plenty of repetition and modelling. That’s okay. The most important thing is to start the conversation and keep it going. The relationship you build through these conversations, one based on trust, understanding, and shared responsibility, can help prevent crises before they happen.
Below are some practical child safety tips and tools for every parent or carer who wants to raise confident, aware, and capable children.
1. Teach Children When and How to Call 000
It’s not enough for children to know the emergency number—they need to understand when it’s appropriate to use it and how to explain what’s happening.
🔹 Role play real-life situations: What would they do if someone was unconscious? What if there was a fire? Practise what to say when calling 000: name, location, and the nature of the emergency.
🔹 Keep it simple for younger kids: Use visual aids, posters near the phone, or a song to help them remember the emergency number.
2. Reinforce Road Safety Rules—Every Day
Children are naturally impulsive and have limited hazard perception. That’s why road safety must be actively taught and reinforced regularly.
🔸 Hold hands: Teach young children always to hold an adult’s hand near or on the road.
🔸 Face oncoming traffic: If there’s no footpath, walk on the right-hand side of the road.
🔸 Look right, left, and right again: Teach this as a mantra when preparing to cross—practice on safe streets and at pedestrian crossings (in Australia).
🛑 Never allow children to play near roadways unsupervised. Their safety awareness develops over time.
3. Teach the Importance of Not Sharing Personal Information Online
Children today begin interacting with digital devices from a young age. This means online safety education must start early.
🔐 Encourage your children to:
Never share personal information such as full name, address, school name, or phone number.
Understand that not everyone online is who they claim to be.
Check with you before joining websites, online games, or chats.
📲 Consider using parental control software to monitor screen time and app use, but always combine it with open communication.
4. Say NO to Unsafe Secrets
It’s common for children to be told, “Don’t tell anyone,” especially by peers or older kids. But unsafe secrets can be harmful.
💬 Teach your child the difference between safe secrets (like a birthday surprise) and unsafe secrets (things that make them feel worried, scared, or unsure).
👂 Reassure them: “If something ever feels wrong, or if you’re unsure whether to keep a secret, you can always tell me and I won’t be angry.”
5. Avoid Running or Playing Near Busy Roads
This may seem obvious, but children can forget in the excitement of play. Set clear boundaries about where children can play, and always supervise them near streets or driveways.
🏃♂️ Practice safe behaviours during walks and outings. Narrate what you’re doing: “I’m stopping at the kerb. Now I’m looking right, left, and right again.”
Final Thoughts: Empowering, Not Scaring
Child safety education isn’t about making children fearful; it’s about empowering them with knowledge, practice, and confidence. When safety learning happens through daily interactions, role-play, and encouragement, your child is more likely to act decisively if a real situation arises.
💡 Remember: It’s better to have these conversations before an emergency than to hope your child will know what to do when it counts.
Other Resources for Parents:
Raising Children Network — Child Safety at Home
Comprehensive guide for parents: what hazards to look out for in homes; tips for supervision; first aid & emergency contact info. Covers indoor, outdoor, pets, etc.
Backed by Australian Government; produced by medical / child health institutions. Raising Children Network
Raising Children Child Safety Checklist Raising Children Network
Kidsafe NSW — Home & Community Safety Information Sheets
Practical advice for preventing unintentional injury (e.g. in community or road settings), easy-to-use sheets.
State-level child safety organisation with strong reputation. Kidsafe NSW
Kidsafe NSW — Home & Community Safety Info Sheets Kidsafe NSW
Daniel Morcombe Foundation – Keeping Kids Safe Resources
Personal safety education materials, resources for parents/carers, videos, topic sheets (online safety, travel safety, recognising/reporting unsafe behaviour).
Widely used in schools; well recognised in child safety education in Australia. The Daniel Morcombe Foundation+1
Keeping Kids Safe – Daniel Morcombe Foundation The Daniel Morcombe Foundation
ACT Government / “Protecting Your Kids – Personal Safety Education for Parents” booklet
A downloadable PDF: clear guidance for parents on how to talk to children about personal safety, including identifying safe people, what behaviours are acceptable, online safety etc.
Run by a government department; protective behaviour programs are well grounded in child safety policy. ACT Government
Protecting Your Kids – Personal Safety Education for Parents (ACT Gov) ACT Government
Good Things Foundation / eSafety Australia — eSafety Parents
Guides, videos, translated materials, how to set parental controls, understanding online risks etc.
Official government body; regularly updated. eSafety Commissioner
eSafety Parents Resources eSafety Commissioner
ChildSafe Australia — Resources for Parents
Guides & tips for online safety, reporting abuse, helping children identify safe people etc. Includes downloadable posters and information.
Respected non-profit focused on child safety; shows collaboration with other agencies. ChildSafe Australia
ChildSafe Australia — Parent Resources ChildSafe Australia
Bravehearts — Personal Safety and Prevention
A recent PDF (2025) focused on protective behaviours and personal safety: what this means for children and how parents can teach & model it.
Bravehearts is a well known Australian NGO focused on child sexual abuse prevention; their materials are designed to be accessible and evidence-based. Bravehearts
Bravehearts — Personal Safety & PreventionBravehearts
Kidsafe SA — Safety Around the Home
State (South Australia) resources: “Parent’s Guide to Kidsafe Homes” covering hazards in the home (burns, drowning etc), plus guides to child car seats, safe sleeping etc.
Part of Kidsafe network; uses state guidelines & safety standards. childprotection.sa.gov.au
Kidsafe SA — Safety Around the Homechildprotection.sa.gov.au