Play outdoor games with safety tips

[realistic]

Hello
These are positive steps, but there is much more we can do as parents to help our children play safe in the great outdoors. To help you make the most of your child’s outdoor play experiences, My Child has come up with some top tips for safe and happy ‘free-range’ fun:

* Agree a set of rules that your child is happy with and understands – such as playing outside for a certain amount of time, or if they are playing in a big space, they know not to go where you can’t see them
* If your child is out with other children, make sure they have a buddy system where they stick with a partner or group and have an adult they know nearby
* Always agree on a meeting point if you are out and about with your child, that way if they get lost it can be the first place to look. You also need to make sure your child knows what to do if they get lost, for example find a policeman, go into a shop or ask a lady with children
* For older children, make sure they know your home address and telephone number, you could even give them a mobile phone to use when they are out
* Again for older children, encourage them to become 'street-smart'. Take your child on the route to their local park from your home so they become familiar with the area. If anything were to happen in an emergency, your child would know their route home
* You could even try setting up a neighbourhood watch scheme where members of the community all keep an eye out for children. Do this with neighbours that you know, or get to know - if they have children themselves