Good Parenting Choices by Sholeh Dehghan (Bury CLAS) and Tameside EMAT Swahili translation by Magdaline Robinson

Teach Child Safety  As soon as children are able to understand, teach them to say their full name, address and telephone number.  Teach your older children safe ways of crossing roads using the marked crossings where possible.  Teach your children that they must never go off with anyone, not even someone they know, without first asking you.  Let your child know that they never have to do anything they don’t like with an adult or older children- even if it’s someone they know. Never make them kiss or hug an adult if they don’t want to.

Maintain Child Safety  It is NEVER safe to leave your children alone, even for a short time, or if they are asleep. Any length of time for children without you or another caring adult can be very lonely and distressing. Don’t leave them alone in the house, car or outside a shop, even for a few minutes.  If you need to leave your children, it is better to leave them with a well known and trusted adult than with an older child under 18 years old.  9 to 12 year old children should not be left on their own for more than a very SHORT time and certainly not every day. Make sure that your 9 to 12 year old child feels happy and confident about being alone.

Always let older children know where you are and exactly what to do in an emergency. Everyone needs to know how to telephone 999 for emergency police, fire or ambulance. 101 is for a less dangerous problem. Make sure your children know one other number you identify as a safe local contact. Emergency!

A safe and healthy lifestyle  Fresh air and exercise are good for everyone. Sports and games are good opportunities to enjoy joining in with your children.  Children need to feel independent, but it is not safe to allow children under 8 to be alone and out of sight. They could get hurt at the playground. They could be approached by an adult who could hurt them.  Always let your children play where you can see and hear them. Show them where they can play and where they cannot play.

Keeping yourself healthy  It is normal for parents to feel stressed or under pressure sometimes. It is OK to walk away and sit in another room for a short time.  Take some time for yourself when the children are asleep. You need to relax.  Do not keep worries to yourself. Seek advice from a GP or health worker.

Keeping yourself healthy  There are organisations which help parents:  Free parent line  The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) help line on or

For healthy hygiene, teach your children to:  Wash their hands after using the toilet and before touching food.  Wash, bath or shower every day.  Brush their teeth twice a day.  Wash their hair frequently and check for lice.  Wear clean underwear and socks every day.

Your Child has needs …..  Make sure your children know they are loved.  Always listen carefully to your child.  Make it clear exactly what behaviour you expect.  If your children behave in the right way, give them praise and rewards.  If your children do not behave as you have asked, explain to them what they have done wrong. You might decide to take away a treat, like TV or a game. Never take away food or other necessities as a punishment.

Your Child needs ….  Set routines. Children feel more secure if there is a clear pattern to their day, such as regular meal times, bedtime, or time for noisy play.  Learning comes naturally to babies and children. They learn through all their senses by tasting, touching, seeing, hearing and smelling. You are their first teacher.

Good Food. Good food helps to form strong teeth and bones, muscles and a healthy body; a good diet can also help to protect your child against illness now and in the future.

Making good choices Shops sell lots of treats. Many of these contain a lot of sugar and fat. Adults and children should only eat small amounts of sugar and fat. Limit the sweets, cakes, biscuits and fizzy drinks your children have. These things are not food. They are only for treats. Eating too many treats will make them feel unwell, and they may not want to eat the good food you give them at mealtimes. Tap water is safe and good for your children to drink.

Health Care All check-ups, immunisations and prescriptions are free for children. Children need check-ups at the dentist every six months. This is done very gently. Take your children to the optician for a check-up if they have headaches or if you are worried about their vision.