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SAFETY THRIVES ON HONESTY!A CHILD'S CHARACTER AFFECTS SAFETY!
A new era in child safety!DOING THE "RIGHT THING"!
We must deal with reality!Each child’s ability to respond to information presented to them varies. Parents have to work with their children according to their own abilities to learn. Part of the basics in safety training include a lesson in the importance of the "truth". Sometimes it is difficult for a child to be 'honest”. It is essential that they understand that safety is based on the truth. We must see the world as it is and respond with good safety decisions. Safety is concerned only with the facts!To avoid an accident you must address issues with absolute “reality”. If prejudice or distortion enters the loop, then we are not dealing with facts any more.If you can’t accept that “you might fall from your ladder”, then you are living in denial. You have to see things as they are, accept the facts, and respond accordingly. Reality and honesty are basics to any approach to avoid injuries. Who is going to teach the children?
Children's safety skills are a "major" part of home safety!What applies to adults, applies to children. If the kids are going to be an active partner in safety they have to see things as they really are. And in the children’s case, a big part of their training should include seeking help from an adult in safety related decisions when possible. This element brings us to a point where we need to look at the child as a person. Children can make a contribution to their own safety if they have been trained. Kids need to be honest!
In the culture we live in today, many of the values that are presented to our children are anti-family, anti-God, and anti-American. Kids, who are exposed to this type of “negative” mentality, are to a great extent removed from an environment that promotes safety! There exists a cynical attitude towards traditional American values.
It presents itself in many forms, but is feed to the children in movies, TV, games, and other forms of entertainment. What we can "get away with" seems to be the norm. Safety just doesn't fit the "entertainment" model of "fun". Safety seems boring until someone gets hurt. Kids imitate and what they see to a great extent promotes stupid and dangerous behavior. If the writers were concerned for something other than "how much money can I make", safety could be build into stories that teach kids to be smart about safety. Remember to avoid accidents we must be able to honestly evaluate danger and to respond with accordingly. If you teach a child to be careful and they don’t value truth and honesty, then there will a significant loss in their ability to avoid an accident. An example might be, the discovery of a “pistol” they might find in the yard or alley. The “Safety-Smart-Kid” will come and get an adult, and tell them what they have found. There can be tremendous temptation to “play” with the gun, and without some basic character building for the child, an incident like this could have tragic results.
A great place for kids to gain values and morals!Who we are is important! 
Teach me what I need to know!Children need limits. Where do you find "rules to live by"? They need the ability to stand up on the side of principles? Without God in the equation, we start searching for a source for truth! "Morals" without God are based on "relativism", which is essentially a philosophy of life that allows one to justify any position they dare to choose. Each parent is responsible for teaching their children values and they will have to bear the success or failure of this effort. If you need some help, you might consider an old fashioned, “Sunday school”. Kindness, consideration for others, and honesty!
These kids learn about things like kindness, consideration for others, and honesty. If you connect a child with negative forces and influences you will negative results. In safety "character" plays an essential role in the success of safety. "Character speaks so loudly, I can't hear what you are saying!" Character gives kids the ability to do what is "right".
Go visit a church that offers Sunday school and visit the children who attend. These are usually wonderful kids, with sense of moral direction. The bottom line is we need kids who tell the truth. Reality says "kids" aren't perfect, so we can only do our best to influence them so they will have the courage to "tell it like it is!” In order to teach principles, we must live by principles. "because" is not a good answer!For those who don’t want to be connected to a Sunday school and/or a church, perhaps the Boy Scouts or the Girls Scouts will help your child with some basic values. When we teach it is a good thing to tell the truth - the question asked is - why? Be ready to answer it and remember; "because" is not a good answer. This is the heart of safety. Truth is critical.
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