Secret Safety Word That Protects My Child From All Dangers – And It Works!

Every parent faces this challenge: when immediate danger looms, alerting their child, no matter their age, becomes a priority. However, when the kids are young and prone to running instead of walking, or zooming around on their scooters or bikes, getting their attention isn’t always easy. Despite yelling their name and “watch out!”, they often either can’t hear or choose to ignore. Experts agree that this call to attention isn’t very clear for children. “Constantly repeating ‘watch out’ eventually becomes meaningless,” explained family therapist Deena Margolin, who hosts the Big Little Feelings podcast. “For young children, often, this phrase lacks precision. It doesn’t really mean much to them.” Another expert added, “when you constantly follow your child around and keep saying: ‘Be careful, be careful, be careful,’ suddenly, when there’s a hot stove or a car coming, they ignore you every time.”

Instead, specialists recommend specifying the type of risk, for instance: “watch where you step, there’s a hole“, “hold on tight with your hands if you don’t want to fall“, or “look how close you are to the edge, move away“. These phrases help the child instantly understand that there is a danger and exactly what it is. In a different vein, another tip has proven effective, and it comes from Anna, a mother, who demonstrated it during a family outing.

We met her in a park where her eight-year-old son Leo was laughing and scooting along with a friend. At that moment, Anna saw a large dog heading straight towards him. Although the dog seemed harmless and was with its owner, it’s always better to be cautious. “To keep my son calm without shouting or frightening the dog, since we can’t predict reactions, a single word allows me to manage this type of danger from a distance“, she shared with us. She also uses this trick when a bee gets too close, or when it’s necessary to stop before crossing the street. The magic word? “Statue!” Immediately, her son Leo freezes: “we introduced this ‘game’ by explaining that whenever mom says this word, even in the street, he must immediately freeze and not move until I say it’s okay to walk again“, Anna explained.

This is a great alternative to the often overused “watch out”. Here, the word “statue” clearly signifies immobility, so the child instantly knows what is expected of him. This doesn’t prevent further explanations about the risks and dangers beyond just this simple word. In any case, Anna “hardly ever says ‘watch out!’ to her son anymore.