The 'X plan' that every parent needs to know
Child safety is of the utmost importance to any tending parent. But when kids become teens, it’s virtually impossible — not to mention, excessive — to keep a a watchful eye on them all the time.
So how do we keep our children safe, without being ultra-intrusive? Teacher/Blogger Burt Fulks has an idea. His strategy, called the “X plan” went viral over the weekend for its simple ingenuity. Take a look:
“Let’s say that my youngest, Danny, gets dropped off at a party. If anything about the situation makes him uncomfortable, all he has to do is text the letter “X” to any of us (his mother, me, his older brother or sister). The one who receives the text has a very basic script to follow. Within a few minutes, they call Danny’s phone. When he answers, the conversation goes like this:
‘Hello?’
‘Danny, something’s come up and I have to come get you right now.’
‘What happened?’
‘I’ll tell you when I get there. Be ready to leave in five minutes. I’m on my way.’
At that point, Danny tells his friends that something’s happened at home, someone is coming to get him, and he has to leave. In short, Danny knows he has a way out; at the same time, there’s no pressure on him to open himself to any social ridicule. He has the freedom to protect himself while continuing to grow and learn to navigate his world.”
The brilliant part about this plan is that is give the child a way to opt out of the situation quickly and easily without “losing face” in front of their friends. Fulks is quick to point out that the most critical component in making an “X plan” work with your child is not asking questions.
“Danny knows that he can tell us as much or as little as he wants… But it’s completely up to him. The X-plan comes with the agreement that we will pass no judgements and ask no questions (even if he is 10 miles away from where he’s supposed to be). This can be a hard thing for some parents (admit it, some of us are complete control-freaks); but I promise it might not only save them, but it will go a long way in building trust between you and your kid,” Fulks wrote.
We think this clever plan could help promote a trusting and secure relationship with your kids, all the while keeping them safe — but we’d like to know what you think. Contact us by tweeting @YahooStyleCA!
