What small children ought to know

And it's your responsibility to tell 'em about it.

1.  Beware of going into the street.  The cars will run right over you.  Stay on the sidewalk.  If a toy or a ball rolls into the street, don't go after it.  Find a grownup to retrieve it.

2.  Beware of going out on the ice.  If the ice breaks, you are dumped into freezing water over your head.  Your chances of pulling yourself out are poor, especially after the water soaks into your winter coat and snowpants making them very heavy.  My mother required us kids to wack a hole in the ice with a pickax to see if it was four inches thick.  Any less than four inches and we couldn't go skating on it. 

3.  Stay away from the stove.  I still remember my mother touching a paper towel to a dark electric stove burner and watching it burst into flame.    

4.  Beware of electric sockets, light sockets and lamp cords.  If  the insulation is old or bad, they can kill.

5.  Beware of power mowers.  They can fling rocks and stuff with the speed and force of bullets. Stay away.

6.  Beware of wild animals and strange dogs.  Don't try to pet them, they may take it the wrong way, and bite you. 

7.  Beware of cars with engines running.  They may be parked at curbside, standing in driveways, or parking lots.  If the engine is running (smoke from tailpipe, and/or lights on) the car is getting ready to move.  Stay well clear, since you are short and the driver may not be able to see you. 

8.  Dress for winter when going out in winter.  Coat, boots, mittens and hat.  Maybe snow pants too.  Even if going by car.   One dark Friday night the car engine lost power going up Franconia Notch with all three kids in the back seat.  We might have had to walk out, four miles or more.  Fortunately I was able to fix the problem by flashlight and we drove on.  But we also had the needed winter gear to walk it should it have been necessary.