30/05/2023
Children, Adolescence, and Awareness
As a child's mind develops, it's essential to encourage them to increase their awareness of the world around them. Their development can include their physical surroundings, such as the nature and animals they see on walks, and their emotional surroundings, such as the feelings of themselves and others.
The same is true as children become adolescence and grow toward becoming an adult. At each stage of development, we must expand the minds and awareness of our youth. ðŸ§
We must also encourage situational awareness. 👀
Many children or adolescents these days have a device in their hands all the time, and I mean all the time. When I was a kid, we always looked out the windows and saw the world around us on a car trip. Today it's hard to peel their eyes from a device screen. 📲
Situational awareness is vital to everyone's safety. âš
Knowing the right indicators can help avoid a vehicle accident with an adolescent learning to drive. 🚗
When walking around a department store or mall, it can be helpful for a young teen to know where the security booth or fire exits are. 🔥 👮♀
For a very young child learning their parent's full name, phone number, and address are helpful if they get separated in a crowd. 🔢 ☎
Teaching any youth not to be distracted (constantly) by their device and to watch what is happening around them could be life-saving.
Any training in situational awareness is a repetitive task and must not be a mechanical act or thought. "Oh, I have to do this because mom wants me to know where the exits are…" but must become second nature and automatic regardless of location or situation.
How do you teach your child or adolescent situational awareness?