School safety, security, and violence prevention resource

One of the most important things in teaching and the learning process is to make it as conducive to the students as much as possible. Countless studies have shown that the more motivated the students are (adults or kids), the faster and the more effective the learning process is. I think that the same thing applies to teaching kids about school safety.

School safety is nothing new, really. In fact, some children might be getting tired of hearing about this topic as parents and school staff alike have probably been pounding these concepts into their brains for as long as they can remember. They probably think that they have heard enough and that they know everything that there is to know about school safety.

Enter the concept of making the topic fun and relevant at the same time. I came across a column by Officer Tom Hanshaw at the Wicked Local, and he seems to share the same sentiments. He wrote:

It’s surely a good idea to spend a few moments with your children and talk about safety. Although they may be excited about a visit by the police officer to their classroom, they’ll soon be focused on the next guest. Taking a few moments to discuss bicycle safety, wearing a safety belt or dealing with strangers can save their life. The discussion can be casual and works well when everyone is at the table for dinner. There are certainly a number of topics for you to discuss, when it comes to safety in today’s world.

I like his idea that teaching concepts about school safety need not be limited to the formal classroom set up. While some children may see the fun in that, I think that learning can also occur outside of the classroom. More so, this kind of setup might be more conducive to some children.

Take Hanshaw’s example of talking while at the dinner table. Indeed, this used to be the norm for many families. The dinner table was sacred. Everyone had to be there. Everyone had to eat at the same time. It used to be one of the times that the whole family can get together and share ideas and experiences as a group. These days, many families are foregoing this experience. Maybe it’s time we go back to it.

Another idea is to take advantage of special days out to impart safety concepts. When you’re in the car, you can share safety tips. When you go to the park or to the shopping mall, you can share tips as well. The bottom line is taking every opportunity you can and turn it into a fun and casual learning session for your children.

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