How to Keep Kids Safe From Violence This Summer

Keep your kids productive during the hot months.

Staying Safe - School is out and students now have more free time. Unfortunately, as the temperature rises, so does crime. There are “2.6 percent more murders and assaults” in the U.S. during the summer than other seasons, according to a 2001 report by Iowa State University. BET.com spoke to Charisse Beach, an author, education expert and administrator, who shared tips on how to keep kids, especially those at risk, safe this summer. — Natelege Whaley (@Natelege_) (Photo: PictureNet/Corbis)

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Staying Safe - School is out and students now have more free time. Unfortunately, as the temperature rises, so does crime. There are “2.6 percent more murders and assaults” in the U.S. during the summer than other seasons, according to a 2001 report by Iowa State University. BET.com spoke to Charisse Beach, an author, education expert and administrator, who shared tips on how to keep kids, especially those at risk, safe this summer. — Natelege Whaley (@Natelege_) (Photo: PictureNet/Corbis)

Targeting At-Risk Youth This Summer - Charisse Beach, author of At-Risk Students: Transforming Student Behavior, has 24 years of experience in education, including 14 as an administrator. As a parent, she dealt with her own at-risk child and worked with them in schools, giving her the knowledge to write on the topic. "Educators need to know those children who are at risk, and become a partner to those students in order for them to have a chance at a successful education,” she told BET.com.  (Photo: Brooke Fasani Auchincloss/Corbis)

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Targeting At-Risk Youth This Summer - Charisse Beach, author of At-Risk Students: Transforming Student Behavior, has 24 years of experience in education, including 14 as an administrator. As a parent, she dealt with her own at-risk child and worked with them in schools, giving her the knowledge to write on the topic. "Educators need to know those children who are at risk, and become a partner to those students in order for them to have a chance at a successful education,” she told BET.com.  (Photo: Brooke Fasani Auchincloss/Corbis)

Focus on the Good - Make a list of all the positive things in your life, from your brilliant mind to your new fabulous job to the niece you adore. Give thanks for them every day and feel the joy that comes from that practice.  (Photo: 68/Ocean/Corbis)

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Who Is Most at Risk? - Beach says at-risk youth are exposed to a combination of personal and environmental risk factors, such as homelessness, poverty and gang activity. These children have to be monitored, especially in the summer.  (Photo: 68/Ocean/Corbis)

Try a summer education curriculum. - Sites like ThinkStretch.com offer low-cost workbooks that provide fun, hands-on weekly activities to keep young minds sharp. Try Time4Learning.com for online curricula; KhanAcademy.com is great for self-directed learners. (Photo: Blend Images - JGI/Jamie Grill/Getty Images)

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Set Rules, Stay Connected  - One thing that parents need to do in the warmer months is continue to be present. “We get caught up in our own contacts, our own personal networking; kids have their electronic device and we figure, 'Well, if they’re at home, they’re safe,’ but they need us.” Beach says. Keeping open communication and setting expectations early will help.   (Photo: Blend Images - JGI/Jamie Grill/Getty Images)

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Partner With Non-Working Neighbors, or Parents You Trust - Beach suggests partnering with neighbors or family members they trust who aren’t working while they are, to check in on children and watch them. “Work out a plan where they can have a check and balance with the children that are left unattended,” said Beach. Have them do activities together. (Photo: Ariel Skelley/Getty Images)

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Set Boundaries With Family and Friends - As stated before, not everyone is OK with interracial dating — this may include your own friends and family. So have a talk with them about boundaries and what you will and won’t tolerate.  (Photo: Image Source/GettyImages)

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Watch Your Company - Adults want to have fun this summer, too. But not all adult activities should be done in front of children. “Adults need to be mindful when they have company over that the example being set is one that you would be proud of if your children behaved that way,” said Beach. (Photo: Image Source/GettyImages)

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Periods of Quiet Reflection - Beach also suggests a period of quiet reflection for adults and children. “Journaling and thinking of good things and incorporating those things that are pleasant into the family structure,” is helpful to keeping the peace within your home, the educator said. (Photo: Tyler Edwards/Getty Images)

Get Kids Involved in Community - If kids don’t have a summer job in their town, find ways for them to get involved in their community. “There’s cleaning up debris in the neighborhood, washing cars, cutting grass, babysitting, running errands for elderly people,” Beach lists as possibilities. (Photo: Steve Debenport/Getty Images)

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Get Kids Involved in Community - If kids don’t have a summer job in their town, find ways for them to get involved in their community. “There’s cleaning up debris in the neighborhood, washing cars, cutting grass, babysitting, running errands for elderly people,” Beach lists as possibilities. (Photo: Steve Debenport/Getty Images)

Don’t Allow Kids to Sleep Over at Just Anyone’s House - Sleepovers are common when the kids are out of school, but Beach reminds parents to know the environments well before allowing their kids to go. “Allowing students to attend sleepovers when they don’t know all of the kids or the other children’s’ families; we have had tragedies that have occurred when children do not know the parents,” Beach warns. (Photo: Mike Watson/Getty Images)

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Don’t Allow Kids to Sleep Over at Just Anyone’s House - Sleepovers are common when the kids are out of school, but Beach reminds parents to know the environments well before allowing their kids to go. “Allowing students to attend sleepovers when they don’t know all of the kids or the other children’s’ families; we have had tragedies that have occurred when children do not know the parents,” Beach warns. (Photo: Mike Watson/Getty Images)

Create a Safe Space for Youth to Come - Business owners, community centers and others should provide kid-friendly safe spaces for children to gather throughout the summer. “It’s just a matter of the community coming together. This time or this day, I’m allowing you to come to my business or home, and it eliminates an opportunity for youth to fall prey to violence.” (Photo: Christopher Futcher/Getty Images)

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Create a Safe Space for Youth to Come - Business owners, community centers and others should provide kid-friendly safe spaces for children to gather throughout the summer. “It’s just a matter of the community coming together. This time or this day, I’m allowing you to come to my business or home, and it eliminates an opportunity for youth to fall prey to violence.” (Photo: Christopher Futcher/Getty Images)

Back to Basics - Beach believes our communities should return to traditional ways of coming together. “Back in the day people used to have block parties where generations would attend, when families would cookout and children would play outside. Just to go back to the basic things that kept the connectivity. And this may help them stay about of trouble.”  (Photo: Ariel Skelley/Blend Images/Corbis)

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Back to Basics - Beach believes our communities should return to traditional ways of coming together. “Back in the day people used to have block parties where generations would attend, when families would cookout and children would play outside. Just to go back to the basic things that kept the connectivity. And this may help them stay about of trouble.”  (Photo: Ariel Skelley/Blend Images/Corbis)