In our everyday adult lives, we face all kinds of risks, on the road, at work, or at home. While many are taken as a matter of course, there are things we do to minimize the most serious risks to ourselves, like wearing seat belts, checking the temperature of the shower, or putting on oven gloves when handling hot dishes.

As parents, it is our job to teach these self preservation skills to our own children. However, until they learn these skills, children, especially toddlers, are a life-force unto themselves. Unfortunately, we cannot keep our eyes on them every single second of the day.

While supervision is the most important ingredient to ensure your child's safety, it's for those moments when you are distracted that you need to plan.

• First and foremost, explain stranger danger and that they should not talk to or accept anything from someone they dont know " no matter how friendly they may seem!

• A monitored home security system can give you the peace of mind that your familys safety and security is monitored whilst you are away.

• Teach your children their full names, address, phone number and your mobile and work numbers.

• Create a list of emergency telephone numbers including police, fire and immediate neighbours and post this by the phone and on the fridge.
  
• Always leave phone numbers where you can be reached at anytime of the day. You never know when they may need to reach you.
  
• Explain to your children how and when to dial 000.
  
• Role-play what your children should do in a range of dangerous and emergency situations. This may be the most important game you ever play!
  
• Demonstrate how to open and lock all the doors and windows and ensure they lock them whenever home alone.
  
• Keep a first aid kit in the house and keep medicine out of reach of children at all times.

Home Alone

• Teach your children how to operate the "panic" button on the home security system for use in emergencies.

• Your children should check in with you when they arrive home. Everytime!

• Install a door viewer and instruct your children to always check the identity of people at the door before opening.

• Teach your children that over the phone or at the door, they should never reveal that "no adults are home."

• Confirm who is allowed into the home. There are to be no exceptions to this list, even if it is the local footy star!

• Choose the safest route to and from school and friends' houses and identify where they may get emergency help if required. Even if it is slightly longer, at least you know they will be safer.

• Teach your children to avoid dangerous places, like vacant buildings, alley-ways, parking lots, and dark parks.

• Teach your children to be "street-wise." Never enter the road from behind bushes or between parked cars and always use traffic lights or pedestrian crossings.

• Identify and make your children familiar with the safety houses in your area.

• If your children arrive home before you, ensure they check in with you by telephone to confirm their safe arrival.