Web extra: 7 simple Back to School tips; New safety app released
Tips come from AlertID and the National Crime Prevention Council (home to McGruff the Crime Dog).
Here's a look at seven simple Back to School tips from AlertID and the National Crime Prevention Council.
Map out a safe way to walk to school or to the bus stop. Avoid crossing busy roads and intersections, if possible. Do a trial run with your kids so that you can discuss areas to avoid along the way, such as vacant lots, construction areas, and parks where there aren't many people. Encourage kids to walk to school or the bus stop with a sibling or friend, and wait at bus stops with other children.
Snap a photo of your child and enter up-to-date descriptions into the My Family Wallet™ (located within McGruff Mobile). If the child goes missing, members may access the information on their smartphones and send it quickly to law enforcement when every moment counts.
Ask about the safety and emergency plans for your children's school. How is local law enforcement involved? How are students and parents involved? What emergencies have been considered and planned for? Create a group on AlertID with your school administrator to share emergency information with staff, parents and others via email and push notification.
Talk to your children about their day. Ask your children if they see anyone bullied, if they are bullied, or if anything else makes them feel uncomfortable. Look for warning signs of bullying, such as a sudden drop in grades, loss of friends, or torn clothing.
If you see something that is suspicious in your neighborhood, report it to local law enforcement and post information and updates to your neighbors on AlertID to help reduce crime.
Teach children to resolve problems without fighting. Talk to them about other ways they can work out a problem, such as talking it out, walking away, sticking with friends, or telling a trusted adult.
Keep an eye on your children's Internet use. Talk to your children about what they do online - what sites they visit, who they email, and who they chat with. Encourage them to speak up if something makes them uncomfortable, or if they witness forms of cyberbullying, such as threats or harassment.
They also have an app that you can download on itunes or android. Search for the "McGruff Mobile app."
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