The first week in September is Safety Week.

There are key lessons that all young children need to know. They can be learning about: calling 911 when there is an emergency; buckling up for car safety; not to wander off; not to talk to strangers; how to prevent poison; bicycle safety; and water safety.

Parents, it is important for young children to be taught how to dial 911. Reasons for teaching them include fire, accidents and sudden illnesses that may strike a parent or caregiver. Present this safety lesson to your young child in a calm, non-threatening manner. Use a toy telephone or an old cell phone to teach them how to dial 911. Children enjoy playing with old cell phones or home phones. Go over the situations that warrant using 911. Put a sticker on your phone with 911 so your little one will remember the number to dial.

We used to have a song, “Buckle up for safety, buckle up,” to remind young children to put on their safety belts. The best way to teach this lesson is to have your child practice buckling and unbuckling the seatbelt in the car.

In teaching your child not to talk to strangers, be sure to instruct them to never get in the car or go with people they don’t know. In teaching young students, I instruct them not to accept candy or straight from their parents’ sight. Develop a security system with your child.

With poison prevention, the best home policy is to put chemicals high up and out of your young child’s reach.

Tell them not to touch or drink anything with a skull or an “X” on it — which means poisonous materials.

When your young child is riding a bicycle, even with training wheels or skateboarding, be sure your child is wearing a helmet. A local safety officer such as a policeman may welcome the opportunity to explain this to your child like they do in a classroom.

With water safety, the best safety procedure is to tell your 2-, 3- or 4-year-olds to stay clear of the water unless they are with their parents or caregivers. Try to have your child take swimming lessons.

Have a safe and fun-filled Labor Day weekend.  

Beth Pinyerd lives in Daphne and serves as director of younger children at Faith Family Fellowship in Spanish Fort.

Her column appears every other week in the Daphne Bulletin and Spanish Fort Sun.