At the wake of the news where two toddlers have lost their lives in Tamilnadu due to the negligence of the parents, let us look at how we can bring up a generation of responsible individuals who will create a better society that we live in today.
I am a mother of two, a Kindergartner and a 1st grader… does that give me the credibility to talk about Child safety? Well, it might not because there is umpteen number of mothers of my age with multiple kids some; who have lost their children to bizarre freak accidents that could have been avoided easily.
What gives me credibility? It maybe the fact that I have been quite successful in preventing many such accidents throughout my life.
Its all about responsibility and ownership over what we do that defines us as an individual. I had the opportunity to grow up as a responsible individual as my parents started out early by giving me the huge responsibility of being my little sister’s guardian though she was just a year and a few months younger to me. I took great pride in being a big sister. I’d watch out for her all the time. If I hurt myself I’d ensure my sister does not hurt herself the same way. It is surprising to know how siblings are attuned to each other more than the parents. Siblings know each other better.
Another way to add the responsibility of caring for others is to entrust care for senior citizens from a very young age. I was given charge of my Grandmother from the time I was in 7 years old. I would hold her hand whenever we walked outside the house. Be it getting in and out of the elevator ( I’d ensure her saree was well inside and her arms and legs were completely inside before I shut the grill door), walking on uneven roads, finding our way through the market place etc.
Home garden and just a few potted plants give us a something to care for. We used to have a few plants at home and the kids were responsible for their care of watering and ensuring the leaves were clean and dust-free, trimming of dried up leaves etc. Of course, we were taught how to care for them and we took great pride in taking care of our house plants.
Pets are an amazing means to teach responsibility for children. We children were in charge of solely caring for our pet dog. Our mother would make food for the dog and take care of it while we were at school. Once we were back we took charge. We’d brush the dog, keep it parasite free, take it for walks and while we were at it we took great care of ensuring its safety from vehicles on the road, other dogs, dirt roads with potholes, debris, broken glass, thorns etc., It helped nurture our relationship as siblings too. We would follow up on the vaccinations, call the vet right on schedule so that its safe for us and the dog, ensured that the house environment was safe for the dog for it was nothing less a than a curious little toddler that never grows up…!
Dealing with real-life situations like these has given me a great sense of awareness about the surroundings that it was much easier when it came to my own children. I developed the ability to foresee an accident or disaster before it happens. It helped me to be alert and aware of the environment at all times.
Inculcating Art is sure to boost an individual’s sense of responsibility. Art was a major contributor that helped me be aware of my environment. Art involves a lot of observation. Inculcating art is an indirect but very powerful way to improve our sense of self and surroundings. Art makes us see things perfectly, it helps us to put things in order because just like sound which is just noise when unorganized; art is just a scribble but when organised it is a treat to the visual senses just like music. An artist likes to put things in perspective which will result in being organised.
Letting the child make mistakes take decisions and preparing them to face the consequences of their decisions. My parents rarely sat with us through our school assignments or projects. We figured out solutions most of the time. They were always present to guide us but never did our work. This helped me find better solutions to everyday challenges. It is not about coming up with innovative solutions but to develop the ability to look in the right place to find answers.
Safety does not only include environmental safety, but it also involves physical emotional and mental health. Once we make being responsible as our second nature it is easy to safeguard those around us. So it is vital that we empower our children to be responsible individuals but letting them make their choices and support them irrespective of the outcome. Keeping them in a bubble and watching over them at all time will disable them for life.
Now that we are on the quest to make our next generation smart and responsible let us see how can we ensure the safety of our until they are big enough to fend for themselves.
As an Adult we will have a better perception about the outcome of a situation. Always be an example to the child.
1. Follow rules everywhere all the time even if we are not under the surveillance of the law enforcement. This should include house rules, traffic rules, safety precautions at various public and commercial establishments.
2. Use safety gadgets or equipment even if we know nothing will go wrong. Like wearing gloves while gardening or handling household cleaners, helmet while riding a bicycle or two wheeler, proper footwear, an umbrella to protect us from the sun and rain etc.
3. Be aware of the environment. This involves a little bit more effort from our side. Because it requires us to be in the present our thoughts and focus should be in what we do and not distracted by other means of entertainment, or preoccupied thoughts. However we can learn to do it with some practice. Simple things like a rusty nail on the road, fighting animals, a loose cable hanging low, liquid spilled on the floor
4. Read instructions. Carefully read instructions when we are at a new place, using a new gadget, doing something for the first time, handling food, medicine, chemicals etc. Always read instructions even if we know them. Check for manufacturing and expiry dates. You can read it aloud if kids are around so that they also learn something from it.
5. Keep things organized and put things where they belong. This helps us to identify if something is out of place and most of the time helps avert accidents.
6. Repair or fix or discard anything that is broken or not in perfect condition right away. Be it medicines or food past expiry date, electrical and electronic gadgets, broken cutlery, windows etc. Follow proper safety procedure while discarding broken items and explain why to the kids.
7. Think before you buy. Before buying anything new take the presence of children into account and make informed decisions based on the age of the kids. We never used battery operated toys until the youngest child was able to understand the risk of putting foreign objects in their mouth. Always explain consequences to the older kids so that they can lookout for younger ones.
Invest in proper safety locks until kids grow up. Though the safety gadgets are expensive they can always be passed down to friends and family to get the most out of the purchase.
Safety should be the at most priority over the cost or appearance of household gadgets, furniture etc.
8. Never second guess when the kids are sick. Follow your intuition as much as possible but it’s better to err on an extra doctor visit that getting there too late. Whenever the child is extremely drowsy or disoriented or not passing urine adequately it’s time to rush to the doctor.
9. Plan everything well ahead giving room for mishaps. While having very young kids it’s not a surprise when they throw up on you just before you step out of the door for an appointment. Always have an emergency bag of clothes, diapers, water bottles, snacks, tissues, towels, a small medical kit prepared and ready. That way you can easily change instead of hunting for things in the last minute. Keep a good 15 minutes buffer time when young kids and babies are a part of our schedule. Always Expect the unexpected. I never leave the house without an extra set of clothes, diapers, underwear and towels.
Never rush. Its from my personal experience while I tried to run with the toddler in one hand and a huge bag in the other to the car as it was getting late… I lost my balance and fell as I was running on the car ramp, thank fully I managed to prevent the child’s head from hitting the ground. It was one of the biggest lessons in my life that forced me to plan even the smallest shopping trips.
10. Keep a very watchful eye in alien environment. Never let the kids get out of your sight in New or crowded places. Never trust strangers. Warn the kids about talking to or going away with strangers or known people without your permission. Warn them about touching unknown animals or plants. Pay attention when your kids get curious and teach them about the world and what is safe and what is not.
11. Learn from others bad experiences. Never leave a door unlatched, never leave water in large containers uncovered and accessible to kids, switch of the gas cylinder when not in use, unplug electrical and electronic gadgets when not in use, don’t leave the appliances and gadgets unattended, keep all sharp tools, glassware, chemicals, sprays, pressurized containers, medicines, tiny things like coins, batteries, important documents etc out of reach of the children and under lock and key
Life is a learning process. We don’t come with a manual for child rearing. Trust your instincts and be watchful to help your children flourish and grow into wonderful responsible individuals.
Popsicle 