You and your children are enjoying a sunny afternoon at the park when they suddenly say, “Mommy, look at that dog! Let’s go see him!” This innocent request could turn emotionally and physically harmful for your children if your children don’t know the proper manners for meeting a new dog.

What do you need to know? Bonnie Buchanan, owner of Bon-Clyde Training Center in Sanford, NC and professional dog trainer offers some advice.

“Dogs need to be treated like human strangers,” says Bonnie. Parents should observe the owner and the dog’s body language. Does the dog look relaxed or nervous? Does the owner have control over the dog? Bonnie also notes that “it’s also important to remember that dogs react differently to adults and to children. Children often make faster and jerkier movements that can make a dog nervous. For a dog that hasn’t been ‘kidsocialized’, children can be threatening.”

Here are a few tips to keep your next encounter with a four-legged friend a positive one:
- The number one rule: Never stare a dog in the eyes. A dog interprets staring as an attempt to be dominant and this can cause a negative reaction from the dog.
- Always ask the owner’s permission before you approach the dog.
-Slowly lift the back of your hand for the dog to sniff.
- Scratch under the chin first. Never pet the top of the head because this is a sign of dominance.
- Keep your voice soft.
- If a dog runs up to you, then remain calm, don’t run or scream.

The dog’s owner may not be aware of the dog’s behavior, so watch for these signs and don’t approach a dog if he is doing any of the following:
- Staring at you intensely
- Tipped forward on the front feet
- Ears pressed against the head
These are all signs of aggression and it is best to stay away. If you have any doubt about the dog or owner, then avoid them. Dog bites are 100 percent preventable.

What can you do if your child loves dogs, but you don’t want to make one part of your family just yet? Here are a few suggestions:
- Training Centers like Bon-Clyde offer a variety of classes and seminars open to the public to observe.
- Attend fundraisers or dog festivals
- Attend local dog shows

What can you do if your child is scared of dogs?
- Find a Therapy Dog volunteer dog. Therapy Dogs are used in nursing homes and hospitals and have undergone special training to be gentle and calm.
- Encourage the dog owner’s to tell your child something special about the dog.
- Ask if your child and the dog can “shake hands”.

It is important to remember that dogs will be dogs and even the most well trained dog can have a bad day. Dogs have personalities as unpredictable and complex as humans. It is these personalities that make dogs irresistible to adults and children.

Originally posted by: CharlotteMommies

Within a span of two days, I was given a view as to how children in this day and age are a constant worry. How do you explain to preschoolers how dangerous it is for them to be a normal preschooler?

Let me go back and explain the last two days of my life. Day one started out as a great bonding time with my kids. We went to the park to feed the ducks and play. I can't explain the pure joy I had watching my five-year-old and one-year-old chase ducks. That joy quickly turned to terror within the hour. I watched as my sweet, innocent five-year-old, who was supposed to be playing on the big slide, struck up a conversation with a strange man. I, on the other hand, was by the little slide a good distance away with the one-year-old. I immediately began to yell at my son, only to have him so caught up in his conversation that he did not hear me.

I felt torn between my two kids. Do I panic the one-year-old and run up the slide to grab her and lose sight entirely of my son for the brief second. Or do I run to him and leave her on the top of the slide. I continued to yell and waited for her to come down. We immediately began heading towards my son. Of course, he finally heard me yelling and came running.

When asked who he was talking to, he replied, "My friend's dad." What friend, I immediately asked. "The girl I met on the slide." Where is she, I asked. "Over there on the slide." I was scared and upset all at once. Did I not explain to him the dangers of talking to strangers? Does he not realize the amount of kids taken each day? Is it fair to ask him not to be friendly? Is it fair to take away his naive view to the world as a five-year-old?

My husband and I realied that we weren't living in an age of innocence anymore and really don't remember a time when there was one. Therefore, we decided to have the stranger talk with our son before bedtime.

The next day, my son and I would watch first hand the fear and terror of losing a child. Our mall has a play area for kids - complete with squishy floors, slides and animals to jump on. As we entered the mall that day to play, we heard a woman screaming hysterically. One of her three kids was missing. My son held on to my leg as we watched this woman, with the help of all the other mothers in the crowd, tearfully look for this little lost girl. The good news is that the girl was found in a toy store. She had gotten out of the play area and, as a three-year-old, could not resist the toys. Her mother just sat holding her crying. The girl did not even realize why her mom was so upset.

It really got me to thinking. How do we teach our kids safety without scaring them? Is it more important to take away their innocence about what the world is really like? I think it has to be done. So here are a few tips that I am doing with my children.

Personal Information
It is essential that your children know your first and last names, not just mommy or daddy, as well as their own first and last names, at the very least. As soon as they can learn, teach them their phone number and address.

Who is safe?
Teach kids that if lost they can always go to a police man, security guard, teacher or even the person behind a cash register to call out your name. Teach them not to talk to adults who they do not know unless you are there with them.

Practice
Teach them that it is ok to scream if an adult approaches them and makes them feel uneasy. Practice what they should do if an adult approaches them without a parent present. Teach them to run immediately to their mom and dad. Other parents will not be offended because they realize the danger as well. Also, lecture the importance of staying close to mom and dad.

What belongs to them
Teach kids that any area covered by clothes is their private area and should not be shown or touched by anyone. Anytime someone makes them feel uncomfortable they should tell you. They should not be embarrassed or ashamed. After all, it wasn't their fault.

Inform caregivers
Make sure those watching your child, either in a daycare setting or babysitting in a home, know who is allowed to pick up your child in case of emergencies.

Follow rules
No matter where the child is, explain the importance of following rules. Explain how rules are set up for their safety and when rules are not followed harm can result. Explain that it is imperative for children to follow the rules at school or even with you. As a teacher, it was heartbreaking to hear about kids getting hit by a bus or not being in the right line and being sent to the wrong neighborhood.

Be suspicious
Inform kids to stay away from cars when playing outside. If one stops by them, they are to immediately run inside. Also teach them to never take candy from a stranger and to know that just because an adult knows their name does not mean they are safe to be around.

Kids are never too young to have these types of conversations. Unfortunately, in our society, there are too many who are willing to hurt a child. It is, of course, a parent's worse fear to lose a child. It brings me to tears to think of all who have.

Originally posted by: SaltLakeCityMommies

If you grew up in the kind of neighborhood I did, then you remember people sitting out on their front porches in the evenings, kids playing out in the neighbors yard til it was too dark to see and the mad rush to the ice cream truck when that little jingle was first heard on the street.

Nowadays, that scene is almost non-existent. Many parents are working late, then have to pick up the kids from their day care provider and rush home to make dinner, spend a little quality time with the kids and then off to bed to start all over again. Parents are worried that the streets aren't safe. People drive everywhere, and the most you see someone is when you are both getting into your car at the same time.

There are many benefits to having a close relationship with your neighbors. Research shows that neighborhoods where people know each other by name and are connected to one another have lower crime rates. It has even been shown that kids who live in tight knit communities do better in school.

Maybe it is time for us to bring back the days of yesterday, and get to know our neighbors. One way you can do this is by making a neighborhood directory. Send a letter (or even better, deliver it in person) asking your neighbors if they would like to be included in a neighborhood directory. A sample letter can be found here. Have them complete a form that provides you with information to put in the directory. A sample form can be found here. Once you have collected the completed forms, print a directory and distribute it to your neighbors. You can also email the directory to them to save on paper costs.

Another idea is to start a website for your neighborhood. You can get a free website from Geocities (http://www.geocities.com) or Neighborhood Link (http://www.neighborhoodlink.com). You can put a calendar of events in your area on the site, or perhaps list the email addresses of the residents. A bulliten board can be used to post announcements or special needs.

What about an old-fashioned potluck dinner or backyard barbeque. Invite your neighbors and ask them to bring a covered dish or dessert to share! What a wonderful way to get to know the people in your neighborhood. You might enjoy it so much that you turn it into a monthly event!

In this day and age, it is even more critical that we know those who live around us. Our very safety might depend on it. But there is also so much joy to be found right in your backyard! A host of new friends (and babysitters!) can be found just a stone's throw away from your front door. And perhaps, all of your neighbors are just sitting there waiting for you to make it all happen!

Post originally from CharlotteMommies