Never leave young children home alone, even for a short time. Teach your children about the dangers of firearms. If you keep a gun in your home, unload it and lock it up away from the bullets where children cannot find it. Teach your children that nobody has the right to hurt or touch them where they don't want to be touched. Nobody but a doctor during a physical exam should touch them in a place that a bathing suit covers.
Many people keep oil lamps handy to cope with power outages.
But children can mistake the clear oil for water, landing them in the hospital. Safety experts urge parents to keep lamps and lamp oil out of the reach of children. Consider tethering your kids to you with a retractable cord that allows them to run around within a short radius. Firmly tell your children never to send a picture of themselves or the family without first checking with you. If you decide it's OK for your child to meet his or her pen pal, arrange to meet in a public place and go with your child.