What Your Kids Should Know Before School Starts Again

A Parent’s Guide to Everyday Safety

Backpacks are soon to be packed, supply lists are checked, and the first-day jitters are on the horizon. But as you get your child ready to return to school, there’s one area of preparation many parents overlook…personal safety and situational awareness.

We teach our kids how to read, write, and follow school rules.
But do they know what to do if something feels “off”?
If a stranger approaches?
If a classmate says something that makes them uncomfortable?

As the world becomes more complex, the threats our children face, both online and in person are evolving. Now more than ever, we need to prepare our kids to recognize those threats and respond with confidence, not fear.

Here are five essential things your child should know before stepping back into the classroom this fall:

1. How to Trust Their Gut and Speak Up

Children are incredibly intuitive. But if they haven’t been taught to trust their instincts, they may freeze or second-guess themselves when something feels wrong. Teach your child that it’s okay to speak up, even if they’re not sure something is “serious.” If someone gives them an uncomfortable feeling, they need to know it’s always better to say something.

Give them permission to:

• Leave a situation that feels off

• Tell an adult they trust

• Say “no” to anything that crosses a boundary

2. Who Their Safe Adults Are (and Aren’t)

Kids need to know exactly who they can go to at school, at aftercare, or even during transit if something goes wrong. Just saying “tell an adult” isn’t enough.

Create a list with your child:

• Name their teacher, coach, principal, or counselor

• Include trusted friends’ parents or nearby family members

• Be clear that not all adults are automatically safe

3. What Situational Awareness Looks Like for a Kid

Situational awareness isn’t about paranoia…it’s about paying attention. Even young children can learn this in age-appropriate ways.

Teach your child to:

• Notice exits and safe spaces in every room

• Stay alert to people who might be watching or following

• Keep their phone (if they have one) charged and silenced, not glued to their face

• Avoid walking alone while distracted

This doesn't have to be scary, it can be practiced as a game:
“What color was the door we came in?” or “How many exits did you see in the cafeteria?”

4. How to Handle Unsafe Digital Situations

Most kids use devices daily in school. That opens doors to communication and risk, especially when it comes to online messaging, gaming, or group chats.

Before school starts:

• Set digital boundaries: no chatting with strangers, no accepting game invites from people they don’t know

• Teach them the red flags of grooming and manipulation

• Help them understand that once something is sent, it can’t be taken back

• Encourage them to talk to you if something weird happens online—without fear of getting in trouble

5. What to Do in a Real Emergency

If the fire alarm goes off, there’s a lockdown drill, or someone on campus is acting strangely, your child should already have a basic response plan.

Go over simple but powerful steps:

• Where do they go if they’re in class?

• What if they’re in the bathroom or hallway during an emergency?

• Who do they text if they can use their phone?

• What are the school’s safety words or codes?

When your child is confident in the plan, they’re less likely to freeze in a real situation.

Train Their Confidence, not Their Fear

The goal isn’t to scare your child. The goal is to empower them.

That’s exactly what the Paratus 3P Process is designed to do. Through simple, practical steps, your family can build:

• Situational awareness habits

• Critical thinking skills

• Real-world scenarios to practice

• A shared language of safety

You don’t have to figure it out alone. You don’t have to be paranoid. You just have to start preparing together.

Want to make sure your child goes back to school with more than pencils and notebooks?
Equip them with the awareness and confidence to face anything that comes their way.

Learn more about the Take Back Responsibility Program at https://www.paratus.group/takebackresponsibility

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