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SAFEGUARDING IN THE HOLIDAYS

WRITTEN by SERVICES FOR EDUCATION

In this edition around SAFEGUARDING IN THE HOLIDAYS, we’ll look at:

  • Holiday Hacks: Stay safe and have fun – why is safeguarding so important in the holidays?
  • Safeguarding specifics – what risks can arise when the children aren’t at school?
  • Recognising issues – what behaviours and signs can the holiday help you to spot and what can you do about it?
  • Resources and Signposts – where to look for help, advice and guidance.


HOLIDAY HACKS: STAY SAFE AND HAVE FUN

When it comes to keeping children safe, we all have a vital role to play. During term time, schools work hard to ensure that children are kept safe, there are systems and procedures in place to protect your child and staff are trained to recognise potential risks and take appropriate action. But in the holidays, the bulk of that responsibility falls to you- the parent or guardian!

As much as we’d like to be, we can’t always be there to shield children from harm; whether that’s at home, in the community, or online, so your child needs to be taught the vital skills and knowledge to stay safe.

As a parent…

  • It is your role to give your child the knowledge and tools so that they can make safe decisions. You need to explain the importance of trusting their instincts and remind them how to seek help when they feel uncomfortable or are worried about something.
  • You know the area you live in better than most, so discuss the potential dangers both at home and when out and about, giving your child clear expectations for keeping themselves safe. These could include not talking to unfamiliar adults for no reason, letting you know where they are playing, being back by a certain time or staying away from particular areas.
  • You should rule the roost when it comes to online access- discuss screentime limits, the potential dangers of the internet and social media and support your child in becoming a positive digital citizen.
  • At the start of school holidays, establish guidelines for online use, safe play in and out of the home and expectations for behaviour. Rules aren’t always fun but are a necessity when it comes to keeping your child safe.
  • And always keep that watchful eye over them, no matter how grown up or sensible they are or seem. Use parental control tools to help them stay safe online or use family apps such as Life360 or findmyfriends to monitor their whereabouts and ensure they have adequate supervision in the home.

Remember: While it’s important to teach children to keep themselves safe, it’s equally important to remember that they are still children. They may not always make the right choices, and they may need our guidance and support and to know they can come to use- no matter what.


SAFEGUARDING SPECIFICS

There are many key safeguarding issues that arise around the school holidays- some are season specific, whereas others go all year round. These can include:

Online Safety Isolation & Boredom Mental Health Issues
Encourage open and honest communication: Try to have conversations about online activities and let your child know it’s okay to ask questions about anything they encounter online.

Set clear rules and boundaries: Set clear rules about screen time, appropriate online content, and online friendships. Set up parental control tools to monitor and limit online activity.

Teach digital citizenship: Teach your child to be kind and respectful online and show them how to block and report inappropriate content.

Be a role model: Try to demonstrate responsible online behaviour yourself and limit your own screentime where possible to set an example.

Encourage Safe Sharing: Explain the dangers of sharing personal information like full names, addresses, or phone numbers online. Teach them to think carefully before posting anything online, as it can be difficult to remove.

 Try to have screen free time every day: Plan activities that involve going outside or meeting up with others. Local libraries and children’s centres will often offer free activities during the holidays- take your child along to help stop the boredom.

Make plans with friends: Organise playdates and meetups so they can keep socialising over the break from school.

Try a new park every week: Make a plan with your child to visit different local parks- use the PlaygroundBuddy App to help find some new ones.

Undertake a reading challenge: Go to the library and choose some books and see how many you can read together across the holidays!

Work on a project: Find something your child loves and turn it into a project- it could be writing, arts and crafts or photography- whatever will get them engaged.

Learn something new: Challenge them to learn a new skill- can they knit, do crosswords or learn how to skip? Make it fun and throw in some stickers for good measure!

 Encourage social interaction: Where possible arrange playdates and activities that get your child together with their friends and other children.

Limit screen time: Try to balance screens and physical activities, encourage outdoor play and creative activities.

Promote healthy habits: Get outdoors and spend time in nature, go for a walk, head to the park and make sure they are eating healthy and nutritious meals and where possible keep to a bedtime routine to encourage healthy sleep habits.

Mindfulness and relaxation: Teach them relaxation techniques like deep breathing and meditation as well as encouraging hobbies like drawing, writing, or music.

Don’t bin off the routine: It can be easy to throw caution to the wind in the holidays, but maintaining some routine can help with behaviour, managing emotions and sleep!
Water Safety Road Safety Sun Safety
Supervise: Always supervise your child near open water, even if they know how to swim.

Teach water safety: Enrol them in swimming lessons, if you can and teach them about water safety.

Set clear rules: Establish clear water safety rules and expectations to keep them safe.

Be aware of potential hazards: Understand the risks associated with open water, such as currents, tides, and underwater obstacles.

Stay within sight and hearing distance: Keep an eye on your child at all times and be able to hear them if they need help.

Know what to do in an emergency: Teach them how to call for help if they get into trouble in the water.

 Lead by example: Always follow traffic rules, show your child what you expect them to do.

Teach the golden rule: Teach them the importance of the “Stop, Look, Listen” rule before crossing the road.

Practice safe crossings: Practice crossing the road with your child in a safe and controlled environment.

Use reflective clothing: Ensure they wear bright clothing during the day and reflective clothing at night.

Teach cycle safety: If they are out and about on their bikes-ensure they are wearing helmets and understand the rules of the road.

Be patient and positive: Reinforce positive road safety behaviour with praise and encouragement.

 Choose the right suncream: Select a higher factor suncream and apply generously. Reapplying every two hours, or more often if swimming or sweating.

Dress for sun protection: Where possible, have your child wear lightweight clothing, which cover up exposed skin and a hat when out in the sun!

Seek shade: Plan outdoor activities during cooler parts of the day, such as early morning or late afternoon. Try to find shade when out or take an umbrella with you.

Stay hydrated: Encourage them to drink plenty of water, especially when they’re active outdoors.

Educate your children:  Teach your child about the importance of sun protection and how to protect themselves.


RECOGNISING ISSUES

Spending time at home with your child in the holidays allows you to see them away from the stresses of the school run, trying to remember what day they need PE kit and arguing over homework, which in turn allows you to see a different side of their personality. Seeing them in social situations, at play and in their down time allows us to spot signs that are maybe out of the ordinary or need further exploration.

These could include changes in their behaviour, eating habits or sleep patterns, the language they are using and things they are talking about or even changes in their personality. These signs can indicate that something isn’t right- this could be that they are unhappy, being bullied or worried about something that is going on at school, but spotting these signs also allows you an ‘in’ into some deeper conversations, allowing you to take relevant and appropriate action where necessary.

So, here are some top tips for spotting signs and starting the conversation:

Understand your child’s reactions: Every child reacts differently to certain situations, they may get sad, angry or upset- so look out for changes in the way they handle everyday life- are they under or overreacting to normal situations? Do they seem less able to regulate their emotions when things don’t go their way?

Listen out for language: How does your child speak about themselves and others? Are they using language which isn’t age appropriate. We know that all children will pick up the occasional bad word, but could their language indicate they’ve been exposed to something they shouldn’t have been?

Take time to talk: Carve out time every day for a chat- this could be in the car, in the bath or whilst snuggled on the sofa, it doesn’t matter what this looks like, but it can provide your child with the chance to open up and you, as the parent, chance to ask questions to find out more.

Really, really listen: Parents are so busy, and it can be easy to brush off comments with an “ignore it” or a “that’s just part of growing up”, but these comments can create a barrier to your child opening up if they have worries in the future. Take notice of what they tell you and validate their feelings, this way they will know you care about what they have to say and will feel more confident sharing how they feel.

Use books and stories: If you know your child is struggling, there are lots of books and stories out there around various topics- these could include parental separation, bereavement or anxiety. Using these can often open the door to deeper discussions and help your child to understand their emotions are normal.

The Book Trust has some amazing recommendations for stories around different topics- find these here.

Reach out for support: If you are concerned about your child, their mental health or a particular worry, there are always avenues for accessing support. After shorter holidays, you may raise issues with staff in school, or with the GP, but if the children are off school for longer, you can reach out to charities such as the NSPCC or your local Children’s Social care.


SUPER RESOURCES FOR YOU TO USE AND TO SHARE

WHERE TO FIND SUPPORT

  • The Waiting Room – A central place which brings together websites, who provide help and support across Birimngham and Solihull: the-waitingroom.org

Page Last Modified:  18/11/2024 10:01