As your child becomes more independent and spends more time in the outside world, it is important that you and your child are aware of ways to stay safe. Here are a few tips to protect your child:

Tell your child why it is important to stay out of traffic. Tell him not to play in the street or run after stray balls.
Be cautious when letting your child ride her tricycle. Keep her on the sidewalk and away from the street and always have her wear a helmet.
Check outdoor playground equipment. Make sure there are no loose parts or sharp edges.
Watch your child at all times, especially when he is playing outside.
Be safe in the water. Teach your child to swim, but watch her at all times when she is in or around any body of water (this includes kiddie pools).
Teach your child how to be safe around strangers.
Keep your child in a forward-facing car seat with a harness until he reaches the top height or weight limit allowed by the car seat’s manufacturer. Once your child outgrows the forward-facing car seat with a harness, it will be time for him to travel in a booster seat, but still in the back seat of the vehicle. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration pdf icon[1.15 MB / 1 page]external icon has information on how to keep your child safe while riding in a vehicle.