Longer days and warmer weather means that many of the youngest residents in the HOA have more  freedom to play outside to their heart’s content (or at least until mom or dad call them back inside)! While homeowners associations encourage kids to enjoy being outside they also want everyone to stay safe. Your HOA board can do just that by helping members follow the tips below.

Make sure children are proactive about their safety

Whether they’re playing at a park, swimming at a pool or riding their bikes around the neighborhood, it’s important that kids understand what types of injuries could occur during these activities, and how they can best avoid them. If an injury does occur, your kids need to know what actions to take—such as alerting a trusted adult or, in the case of a true emergency, calling 911.

Supervise kids at the pool

While it’s always a good idea to keep an eye on your kids, it’s particularly important to make sure your children have adult supervision while they’re in the homeowners association community pool.

It only takes a second for even good swimmers to find themselves in a dangerous situation, so it’s vital that kids are supervised by someone who knows the signs of a distressed swimmer. Click here to learn about how you can keep your family safe at the pool.

Slow down while driving through the neighborhood

All residents should take note of this rule. With children out and about in full-force during the warm days and evenings, you’re more likely than ever to see a distracted kid chasing after a run-away baseball or skateboarding on the streets.

Slow down when driving through the homeowners association, be extra aware of what’s going on around you, and be prepared to stop suddenly if a child runs out into the road. Parents should remind kids that they have a responsibility to be aware of oncoming cars as well, and to be extra careful when they are on the street.

Remind older kids to check in when they’re playing without adult supervision

When kids are out on their own, it’s easy for them to forget to let their parents know they’re okay. So make sure they know the HOA rules and establish your own set of rules, such as checking in every 30 minutes or whenever they change locations, and be firm about enforcing them.

If your child has a hard time remembering to give you a call every so often, it might be helpful to have them set an alarm on their cell phone or watch so they don’t forget.

It’s a great way for kids to build a sense of independence and for you to know they’re safe even when they’re not within sight.

While summer can present some hazards, there’s no reason your kids can’t come out of it unscathed (notwithstanding a few minor scrapes, bruises and bug bites, of course)!

To learn more about how you can keep the kids in your homeowners association safe check out this list of great articles. Stay safe and enjoy the rest of this wonderful season!