Safekids Aotearoa

Level 5 40 Claude Rd, Epsom, Auckland

Family Services Government Services Health Safety

Need to know

Safekids Aotearoa is a service of Starship Children’s Health, established in the early 1990s by Starship Children’s Health Trauma Service to help reduce the high rates of preventable injury to children. Our mission: To help reduce the incidence and severity of unintentional injuries to children aged 0 to 14 years. Our vision: That children in New Zealand are free to enjoy their childhood without being adversely affected by unintentional injuries.

Unintentional Child Injury Quick Facts:

Unintentional injury is the leading cause of death and hospitalisation for children 0 to 14 years in New Zealand.
Almost two children die from an unintentional injury every week.
Every day an average classroom full of children are injured severely enough to be admitted to hospital.
The Good News: Unintentional injury is preventable.

Safekids Aotearoa is also a member of Safe Kids Worldwide, a network of 25 countries that share evidence-based programmes and information on new ways to prevent injuries to children.

www.safekids.org.nz

LITTLE Q & As

My kid can’t stop saying “I WANT IT”!

Sometimes our children can sound like a broken record wanting and, needing everything in sight! It is times like this when can find ourselves going a bit crazy wanting to run from all the demands. One major tip to help avoid this, is teaching your child the difference between ‘want and need’. By explaining to your child there is a big difference between “I need a drink” or “I want a toy”, you will help your child understand when it’s the right time to ask for something and, hopefully will diminish the list of requirements for you!

Is your kid nose-picker?

Deal with any allergies and dehydration issues first as these can make picking seem necessary. Teach your child to use a handkerchief or tissue, as the main problem is the spreading of germs from fingers straight to the nasal cavity.

My child can’t stop saying rude words! What do I do?

As parents we all will experience our children saying rude words, whether it is as small as be saying ‘poo’, or screaming a swear word in the middle of a supermarket. No matter the circumstance, it is our job as parents to teach the child what is acceptable language to use. When your child uses these inappropriate words you can…

1. Firmly explain this is a bad word and “we don’t use that word in this house”.

2. Set a rule that if this word is used again, there will be a punishment.

3. Ask if they understand this discussion you two have just had.