Letter to the Editor

To the Editor:

The back-to-school season is underway, and it can be exciting as well as challenging. It is important to discuss school safety tips and regulations to ensure a safe school year.

Here are a few tips that discuss physical safety as well as emotional safety:

• School Safety Protocols: Students should be familiar with safety protocols and programs in place and how to use them in emergency situations such as evacuations, lockdowns, and mental health and medical emergencies.

• Regular Check-ins: For parents, keeping open communication with children to address issues before they escalate for example, talking about activities at school, situations that make them feel anxious, scared, or uncomfortable, their feelings about relationships with friends, teachers, coaches, neighbors, etc. Parents should also consider monitoring their children’s social media activity and have open conversations about online safety.

• Body Safety and Boundaries: According to the YMCA, body safety is the concept of teaching children how to protect themselves from inappropriate touch or unwelcome behavior from others. This may include teaching children about private parts, appropriate touch, and personal boundaries. Parents should practice discussing body safety, personal boundaries, and consent. For younger children, it is important to learn body autonomy to identify parts of their body that are private.

Back-to-school season is an exciting transition. By implementing these safety tips and regulations, you can help ensure your child is taking adequate steps to keep themselves safe.

If you are a victim of a crime or would like more information regarding school safety, please contact Hands of Hope Resource Center at 320-732-2319.

Cassandra Ortiz

General Crime and Child

Abuse Services Coordinator

Hands of Hope Resource

Center-Todd County