Summertime Safety

By Lindsey Castellanos

Summertime is upon us! Many families are looking forward to new experiences and creating new memories. Kids might be going to day camp or sleep away camp for the first time.

Here are some tips for both experiences to be aware of and keep kids safe. We have also listed some questions that can help guide you in taking the information a step further.

SUMMER/DAY CAMP FACILITY QUESTIONS:

What are the policies of your camp/daycare for supervision?

-Be aware of one-on-one situations

What is the policy for staff members to contact campers outside program activities?

-Counselors contacting a camper outside program activities is a red flag

What are the policies regarding suspected abuse by a staff member?

-Who is notified of abuse?

Know the qualifications, training, and licenses the camp/staff members must obtain to be employed. CPR training, water safety (if applicable), child abuse prevention training, and behavior correction.

REVIEW WITH CHILDREN:

Who is a safe adult?

Grown-ups that follow the safety rules and a child feels comfortable going to if they feel unsafe, hurt, or are not sure if a situation is safe.

-Identify 2 safe adults your child lives with and 2 outside the home

Discuss red flags someone might use to trick a child into breaking rules:

-Tricking a child to do something dangerous, asking children to keep an unsafe secret, asking a child to leave the group to a more private one-on-one setting, forcing a child to do something they don’t want to do.

Discuss experiences with older youth

-Older youth should never talk about dating or romantic relationships with younger youth. This is a red flag.

-Talk about bullying and how to report this information.

-It is not ok for an older youth/friend to talk about, look at, or show private parts of the body.

-No one should sleep in a bed with them at camp.

Discuss experiences with younger youth

-If your child is with kids younger than them, they have a responsibility not to be a bully to younger children.

-Talk about friendships/relationships with younger children and that it is not appropriate for older teens to have romantic relationships with younger teens/children more.