There is a fine line between making your child feel confident in their safety skills and instilling a fear that something bad will happen. That line can be blurred by familial anxiety issues, childhood fears and, of course, television. Let's look at a few ways we can teach our children to be confident in themselves and help them avoid the fear factor - while still remaining safe.
When you are three feet tall in a crowd of people, of whom all you can see are their knees or waist, it is easy to become overwhelmed. Everything starts to look the same, it's harder to distinguish a parent's voice from all the other sounds, vehicle noises are louder, and the scariest part of all: it is harder to be heard. If you are a child it can be very frightening to walk down a crowded street or around a bustling mall. Keep this in mind when you are out with your child. Help them feel safe by keeping hold of their hand. Talk to them about what you are doing, where you are going and how they can help. As you instil a sense of safety and companionship, your child will begin to feel more at ease.
On the other hand, if he or she is more confident and likes to act independently, then a different path is required. Before you leave the house, talk about staying together. Ask them why they think it is important to keep close to mom or dad. Inviting them to share their thoughts gives the child a sense of empowerment and lets you know what is going on in their head. Expand on whatever their answer is in a way that lets them know how important it is to stay together. Use a positive speech pattern with lots of smiles and encouragement. Some children listen well, but forget things later so reminders are necessary.
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