At this age children have probably learnt a lot about safety – but this doesn’t mean they will follow it.

One minute they may be handling quite complicated situations by themselves and the next minute they manage to hurt themselves doing something simple and ‘childish’.

They are now at an stage where they start to challenge the things that adults tell them. And they want to prove themselves to their friends.

Adults need to find a balance – between encouraging children to develop their independence and providing sufficient protection to help them do this safely.

You need to be a careful judge of your child’s abilities. Check out rather than assume what your child is capable of – especially before letting them attempt tasks alone.

Did you know that children aged 8 to 11…

• Are at high risk of being injured on the roads. Even if they obey all the rules, they still can’t judge speeds and distances as well as adults.
• Are now ready to take responsibility for some aspects of their safety. But are still not ready to cycle unsupervised in traffic.
• Often have accidents because they take risks and show off to friends. Lots of injuries happen when children fall off their bikes.
• Are often hurt in falls because they are keen to test their physical limits.
• May play in dangerous places – like building sites or on railways lines – if playgrounds aren’t stimulating enough or there are no playgrounds available.
• Are more likely to drown when they over-estimate their abilities and under-estimate the depth, strength or coldness of the water – especially in the sea, rivers, canals and flooded gravel pits.

Top safety tips for children aged 8 to 11- Quick links to:

Falls

House fires

Burns and scalds

Choking and strangulation

Poisoning

Drowning

Skateboarding

Road safety

Falls

• Encourage children to play in safe, stimulating places like a park or well-maintained playground.
• Teach children about the dangers of playing on building sites.
• Encourage children to think about safety when doing any kind of ‘stunt’.
• Discourage children from playing on stairs or balconies.

For more information about falls

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House fires

Tips for preventing fires apply to all ages. For information go to fire safety

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Burns and scalds

• It is still dangerous to leave lighters and matches lying around. But it is worth teaching children how to light matches safely – because this makes them less fascinating.
• Teach children to carry out simple jobs safely – such as making a hot drink or using the toaster.

For more information about burns and scalds

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Choking and strangulation

• Teach children not to run or play with food and sweets in their mouth.
• Explain the dangers of playing with ropes or belts. If the game goes wrong, or the child slips, they could be strangled.

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Poisoning

• Don’t leave alcohol lying around. Children’s smaller bodies can’t cope with it – and they may be poisoned by even small amounts.

For more information about poisoning

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Drowning

• Encourage children to swim in safe places like public swimming pools – where there are trained lifeguards.
• Teach children not to run or play around at the edge of swimming pools.
• Teach children not to dive into water less than 1.5m (5 feet) deep.
• At the beach, teach children to swim between the two-coloured red and yellow flags – because these show the area which is patrolled by the lifeguard.
• Airbeds and inflatable swimming toys can be dangerous in the sea. A strong current can quickly carry them – and the child holding them – out of the child’s depth.

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Skateboarding

• Encourage children to wear helmets and knee and ankle pads when skateboarding.
• Make sure children know where it is safe and not safe to use skateboards. It is not safe for children to use skateboards on roads and pavements.

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Road safety

Pedestrians:

• Children under nine should always have an adult with them when crossing the road, as they can’t judge speed or distances accurately.
• Walk any new routes with your child before they do them alone. Talk to them about safety points as well as hazards. Always explain your reasons.
• Teach children to cross roads safely. Get them to show you that they understand by asking them to take the lead when you cross the road together. Ask them to describe what they are doing and the decisions they are making.
• Check out that children understand the meaning of rules such as the Green Cross Code. Some children can ‘parrot’ the words but don’t really know what they mean.
• Set a good example when you cross the road, so they don’t learn bad habits from you.
• Make sure children wear light coloured or reflective clothing on dark evenings and mornings, so they can be seen by drivers.

Cyclists:

• Children under 11 should not be cycling alone in traffic and still need adult supervision.
• Encourage children to wear cycle helmets at all times, and light and/or reflective clothing if they cycling on the road with you.
• Encourage children to take part in a cycle training scheme. For England go to www.cyclingengland.co.uk to find out about Bikeability training, for Scotland go to www.roadsafetyscotland.org.uk/education/primary/index.asp or www.cyclingscotland.org

Passengers:

• The law says that children under 135cm (about 4ft 5in) in height who are under 12 years must use an appropriate child car seat or booster seat – even on short journeys.
• If your child is more than 135cm tall, they can use an adult seat belt. But a booster seat may help the seat belt to lie on the child’s body properly.
• Make sure children understand the importance of using their booster seat or wearing a seat belt – it’s hard to force an older child to do something they don’t want to do.

More information about road safety

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