10 Jun Helping Kids Make Healthy Choices: Why the 5 Safety Rules Matter

by Troya Carr, Program Specialist at ECHO
This blog is part of our ECHO: Keeping Kids Safe blog series.

As kids grow up and start making more decisions on their own—about school, friendships, technology, and more—it’s important they have the tools to make choices that keep them safe and mentally strong.

Why Brain Development Matters in Making Healthy Choices

Children’s brains are still developing—especially the part responsible for thinking ahead and making thoughtful decisions. This area, called the prefrontal cortex, isn’t fully developed until the mid-to-late 20s (Source: National Institute of Mental Health). Because of this, kids often act on impulse or emotions and may find it harder to consistently make healthy choices without guidance and practice.

ECHO’s Five Safety Rules: Simple Tools for Smart Choices

At ECHO, we teach children how to stay safe and make healthy choices using the 5 Safety Rules from the Monique Burr Foundation’s evidence-based programs. These simple tools empower children to recognize unsafe situations, respond effectively, and know when to ask for help.

1. Know What’s Up

Help kids stay aware of their surroundings and emotions. Teach them to know their full name, address, a Safe Adult’s contact information, and what to do in an emergency.

2. Spot Red Flags

Encourage kids to trust their gut feelings when something feels wrong—whether it’s someone asking them to keep a secret, peer pressure, or a situation that just doesn’t feel right.

3. Make a Move

Teaching kids that it’s ok to leave or stay away from situations and people that make them feel unsafe, whenever possible, empowers them to seek out a trusted adult and take action to keep themselves safe.

4. Talk It Up

Saying “No” isn’t always easy, but it’s powerful. Teach children to speak in a clear, assertive voice and encourage open conversations with Safe Adults about anything that makes them uncomfortable.

5. No Blame | No Shame

If something bad happens, remind children it’s never their fault. They should never feel ashamed to ask for help or speak up. You are not to blame. You don’t need to feel ashamed. And you are never alone.

Parent Tips & Tricks

At ECHO, we use The National College’s Wake Up Wednesday Guides as a vital resource for parent training and community outreach. These guides offer practical, easy-to-implement strategies for families. Check out these tips from each guide to support your child’s healthy habits:

— Managing Screen Time: Designate tech-free times, like during meals and before bed.
— Creating Family Rules for Devices: Post family device rules somewhere visible to keep expectations clear.
— Building Healthy Sleep Habits: Keep devices out of bedrooms to encourage better sleep.
— Encouraging Healthy Friendships: Talk about what makes a friendship healthy and how to set boundaries.
— Practicing Safe and Healthy Habits Online: Remind kids never to share personal information online.

Digital Safety Tools for Families: Empowering Healthy Choices Online

In today’s digital world, helping kids make healthy choices includes guiding their online behavior. Parental control apps and online safety resources can be valuable tools to support your child’s digital well-being. Below, parents and caregivers can find a few options:

— Cyber Safety 101: Keeping Our Kids Safe Online – offers parents and caregivers critical definitions, topics to cover when talking with your children about being online, tips that promote safety, and information on how to report efforts to exploit a child online.
— Managing Screen Time (PDF)
— Life360
— Bark
— Qustodio
— Net Nanny
— Take It Down – National Center for Missing and Exploited Children

Remember, these tools work best when paired with regular, open conversations about your child’s digital life. Empower them to make smart choices by balancing guidance with trust.

Final Thought for Families

The 5 Safety Rules aren’t just lessons—they’re powerful life tools. When we help kids build healthy habits, trust their instincts, use their voices, and ask for help, we’re laying the foundation for confident, resilient decision-makers. So, the next time your child faces a tough decision, remind them:

Know What’s Up
Spot Red Flags
Make a Move
️Talk It Up
No Blame | No Shame

Because when kids know the rules, they know their worth—and that’s how safety starts.

Resources for Families

Explore these valuable resources to support your family’s journey toward healthier habits and emotional wellness. We’ve also included helpful videos provided by the Monique Burr Foundation (MBF) to reinforce the 5 Safety Rules and healthy decision-making strategies.

— “Making Healthy Choices” Video (Originally created by Ask, Listen, Learn)
— Ask, Listen, Learn – Parent Resource Page
— National College – Self-Regulation Guide
— Creating Family Rules for Devices: 10 Top Tips for Creating Family Rules for Using Devices
— Safe and Healthy Habits Online: Free E-Safety Guide | Safe & Healthy Online Habits