Experts: When It Comes To Child Safety Parents Need To Get Back To The Basics
NEW YORK(CBSNewYork) -- A tragic fire that took the lives of two 4-year-olds in Far Rockaway has raised questions about when parents should talk to their kids about safety.
Investigators believe that the children killed in the blaze had been playing with a lighter. The tragedy highlighted just how important it is to teach children the basics at a young age.
When it comes to teaching kids about online predators or the dangers lurking in school, most parents have the bases covered. However, experts say that focusing on the big issues may be causing parents to skip crucial steps when it comes to keeping their kid safe.
"It's so common to hear these big stories, school shootings, drugs, or internet safety, that sometimes we just forget to talk to our kids about not playing with the cord on the blinds," parenting expert, Erika Katz,said.
Katz told CBS 2's Kathryn Brown, that it's time for parents to get back to the basics.
"Just because they know so much about computers and technology and can probably use them better than parents can doesn't mean they know small things, like not using a lighter," she explained.
Many lighters require just one finger, but even the more complicated ones are not that complex, particularly for young kids who are used to navigating small gadgets like cell phones and tablets.
"To get a lighter and snap it. It's the simplest things for them because they're used to everything being manipulated by their fingers," Katz said.
Katz pointed out that the parents of tech savvy youngsters may assume that their children know more than they actually do.
"I think they're like two steps ahead. I don't know, they're super smart," Sixto Reynoso said.
Katz reiterated that parents need to focus on the basics like installing window guards, and keeping sharp objects, along with matches and lighters, out of reach.
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