Children - participating in their own safety.

 There is a concept that is foundational for children's safety that parents must understand - How much can they participate in their own safety ? 
As parents, we give directions and orders to our children with the expectation they'll follow those directions and it will keep them safe.  By following our directives, they participate in their own safety.  
But parents will give unreasonable directives that are age inappropriate; simply put, the kids are too young to understand and follow them. 
" You should be watching and staying close to me. Don't wander off."  Good for an 6 year old, terrible for a 3 year old. 
" Don't talk to strangers." Bad advice to start with and very difficult for children to put in practice. Even adults can be suckered in with a smooth sounding adult how much harder for a child to differentiate between good person and con person ?
"Don't open the door."  What if it's the police or fire department bagging on doors to let you know your house is on fire. 
" This is medicine/poison. Don't eat or drink this".  Good for mature kids, bad for immature. They see you eating it, don't they ? Do you really expect a 4 year old to be able to analyze the difference between an adult taking medicine so they feel better but it's not okay for a child to do the same ? 
"Don't touch that ! " Adults have a tough time not reaching out and touching stuff, how much more so for curious children. If it's that fragile, put it away. 

In conclusion, you want to ask yourself - does this child have the ability to understand the direction, follow through, 
and the ability to resist impulses that would override your directive. 

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