With the July/August vacation officially underway, the Children’s Authority is urging parents and guardians to put the safety of their children first.

It says while the vacation period provides an opportunity for children to be engaged in leisure activities, these should be conducted under the careful supervision of a trusted adult.

It says children who lack proper supervision are more exposed to accidents, harm and abuse, and warns that online activity should be monitored to protect children from exposure to negative content and online grooming.

Other tips to keep children safe:

• Encourage children to keep personal information private
• Use privacy settings on social media sites
• Teach children Ok and Not Ok touches and that their body is their own and no one has a right to touch them
• Monitor your child’s friendships, especially with adults who repeatedly attempt to spend time alone with your child, away from others.
• Keep hazardous liquids, materials, sharp objects and anything that can potentially cause injury out of a child’s reach.
• Keep a watchful eye on children when at the beach, river and pool. Children should only be allowed to venture into or around bodies of water with an adult present.
• Cover exposed water containers, buckets, barrels and tanks.
• Teach children that it’s okay to say “no” to unwanted hugs, kisses, or other affection, even from family members.
• Ask about sleeping arrangements and who frequents the household, when children are spending time away from home.
• Know who is supervising your child at all times.

Parents and guardians are also encouraged to use non-physical forms of discipline to reduce incidents of physical abuse.