You’ve waited all week and now it’s finally here: date night! You’ve found a babysitter, checked their references, and left a list of emergency contact information. Your highly recommended babysitter even has certified training! According to your thoughtfully laid plans, the babysitter knows what to serve your kids for dinner, whether to limit your kids’ screen time, and when to put them to bed. But there’s one more conversation to have before you leave for date night. In this age of over-sharing, it’s important to talk to your babysitter about your expectations for digital safety.
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Getting to know your neighbours is one of the first steps you can take to help build a safe community for you and your children. As a police service, we rely on you to know what’s normal in your community and let us know when something suspicious is happening. Your neighbours are one of the best lines of defence to deter crime, and so it’s important to foster a good relationship with them.
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Moms and dads often feel the need to return to work when children are still very young. It can be hard for parents to leave toddlers or even preschoolers with another caregiver. How can we trust another person to know what is best for our kids when we’re away? Starting when they are preschoolers - and even earlier - parents can begin to teach their children to recognize inappropriate behavior and respond if they need help. Education is the key to prevention. Educating them about boundaries and healthy relationships early can support their positive experience with an alternate caregiver. Every child has a right to be safe.
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As the weather starts to warm up and children start spending more time outside, now is a good time to have a discussion about safe interactions with strangers. Although we know that Calgary is a very safe place to live, it’s still important to keep in mind the dangers that can exist in our communities, however rare they may be.
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