Back to School Safety Tips

Back to school, the time most kids dread, has arrived. There's less than a month before autumn arrives and leaves begin to fall.

I think it's time for a few reminders for those of us who are NOT in school.

Back to School Safety Tips

1. Never speed through a school zone.

 Kids are unpredictable and prone to impulsiveness. School zone speeds are low because of that. Reduce your speed. It's only for a few minutes.

2. Never use your cell phone in a school zone.

In Texas, and many other states, it's illegal to use a cell phone in a school zone.

Take your eyes off the street to glance at your cell and you might maim or kill a child who impulsively decided to dash across the street in front of you.

The few seconds your eyes were on your cell instead of the street can be a matter of life and death.

3. Make time in your day to actually talk to each of your children about their school day.

Sounds simple, but many people let their kids live separate lives inside the home.

Be interested in what your kids do at school, what they think, and how their school life is going. Engage in a conversation and focus entirely on your kid. Act as if he or she is the most important person in the world.

4. Take away the kids' cell phones at a designated time each evening.

Help your child to succeed by having all cell phones placed in a central docking station at a designated time each evening. A kid with access to a cell phone when adults have gone to bed is a kid that will play on the phone rather than sleeping.

5. Turn off the WiFi at night.

Same reason as #4. The lure of the cell phone and/or internet is huge. Kids are usually addicted to their devices. Help them break the habit.

Takeaway Truth

Just as you're trying to set limits for your kids, set limits for yourself too. Unplug from media when you're home, and communicate one on one with your kids.