by
Matt Romond
With school quickly beginning
again it is time for parents to look at all of the aspects of back to school.
More than a quarter of America’s school children are on their own after the
school day ends, and before parents get home from work. Despite growing
awareness that children are at particular risk during these afternoon hours,
the percentage of children left on their own in the afternoons has actually
increased in the last five years. Krav Maga Worldwide, a leading self-defense
expert has created a list of tips that will help parents teach their kids
safety and self-defense.
These unsupervised hours pose
unique dangers for different age groups.
Grades 1-5
Lack of proper supervision is
rare for this group except for very short periods of time. Children of this age
are most commonly left alone during a short walk to and from school. Here are a
few practical tips to ensure that this time is as safe as possible.
- Always walk with a buddy who lives very close by.
- Be sure to go straight to school or home. No
detours or goofing around.
- If a stranger says, “hello” they can smile, make
eye contact, waive, and say “hello” back, but they should always keep
walking toward either the school or home no matter what.
Grades 6-10
Lack of supervision is
relatively common in this group. At this age children take on more
responsibility and are less susceptible to the dangers faced by younger
children. However, the dangers that children in this age range encounter are
more commonly imposed by friends and acquaintances. These peer pressure based dangers are
experienced by every child in this age group. But the risk can be mitigated by
ensuring that your children’s time and attention is occupied during these key
hours. Here are a couple practical tips for this age group:
- Get them involved in after school activities that
they genuinely enjoy
- Schedule the time after school for them to
complete their chores or homework. Ensure that you hold them to that
expectation when you come home from work.
- Communication Is Key … Make sure your children understand that there is no such thing as communicating too much. By letting them know that you expect regular updates you will feel better leaving them unattended. Before leaving them for the first time set expectations. Let your kids know what you expect whether it be staying inside while you are gone or coming straight home after school.
- Talk to kids about knowing their surroundings. By explaining to them that they need to be fully aware of what’s going on around them can avert dangerous situations from happening.
- Confidence in speech (projecting, clear) and
body language (posture, eye contact, etc.) are the single most important
factors that can increase your child’s chances of safety. Regardless of
the dangerous situation or the age, a child with a strong presence is
less likely to be at risk than those that project shyness or aloofness.
- Children should always listen to their
instincts, if something doesn’t feel right they should leave the area
immediately without hesitation or fear of getting in trouble.
Matt Romond is a 3rd Degree Krav Maga Worldwide™ Black Belt, the Director of Krav Maga Worldwide's™ KM-X Kids program and has over a decade of experience teaching children and adults Krav Maga self-defense and fight classes.
About
Krav Maga Worldwide
Founded
in 1997 to promote Krav Maga throughout the United States and around the world,
Krav Maga Worldwide trains and certifies instructors and licenses over 150
authorized Krav Maga Worldwide training centers in the United States, Canada,
Japan, Mexico, South America, and Europe, as well as over 800 law enforcement
agencies and military units. Krav Maga offers the highest caliber of instruction
to thousands of people, supporting the company’s core commitment to improving
and saving lives. Krav Maga Worldwide continues to develop, promote and
implement self-defense and fitness programs. For additional information, visit:
www.kravmaga.com.
