The oddest things you learnt as a child just stick with you for life: I could tell you, for example, the exact notes to play every single song in Ocarina Of Time, and remember my mum’s work phone number from her job from 15+ years ago.
Some things are much more useful than others (and I’d argue knowing the buttons to play ‘Saria’s Song’ in a game from 1998 is actually extremely important and useful, thank you very much!), especially those nuggets of wisdom our parents passed down. Those tips parents and guardians tell us don’t only help keep us safe as children, but as adults too – even if you might not realise it at first.
Inspired by the Daniel Morcombe Foundation, which offers free child safety education to children and young people across the country, supports parents, guardians and educators with resources, and offers help to young victims of crime, we’re looking back at those safety tips our parents gave us that actually still hold up in our adult lives.
In support of the Daniel Morcombe Foundation, the not-for-profit raffle Play For Purpose is raising funds to help them continue their good work in raising awareness about child safety issues. In addition to the Daniel Morcombe Foundation, Play For Purpose helps over 500 charities and sporting clubs elevate their fundraising, including Rural Aid, UNICEF Australia and Guide Dogs Queensland.
Consider the raffle a win-win: $5 from each $10 ticket will go towards the Daniel Morcombe Foundation, and you’ll have the chance to take home any of the 395 prizes up for offer including a grand prize worth $250,000 of an electric Audi E-Tron Sportsback and $75,000 in gold. Storing your wealth in gold probably wasn’t in your parents’ life tips, but I reckon these five were.
If You’re Lost, Don’t Move
While this one’s used to prevent scared kids from leaving where they last saw their parents (say, a supermarket aisle), it’s just generally pretty good advice for those times you get separated from friends at music festivals and gigs.
Don’t run around trying to find them (unless you were organised enough to designate a meeting space) while yelling into your phone as if that’d make the reception work better; just call/text and stay put.
Don’t Play With Fire
Okay, this is great advice for all ages and while I know my mum was being literal, it also comes back to me any time I’m about to do something silly with gossip. Don’t play with fire, or you’ll get burned!
Know A Loved One’s Phone Number Off By Heart
We’re all pretty used to out-sourcing memory to our phones, but in a real emergency, there’s a good chance you won’t be able to access your phone/it could be flat. Knowing a number or two of your (physically and emotionally) nearest and dearest is actually something we still need to save brain space for; it’s not just for kids without phones.
If You’re Uncomfortable, Say No
Does this advice ever set you astray? Whether we’re talking about serious and big issues of consent to compromising your morals at work or the much lower stakes of having a gut feeling that a restaurant isn’t going to be good for your gut, this is excellent advice that rings true whenever I get that feeling that something’s not quite right.
Look Both Ways When Crossing The Road
We’ve all seen what happened to Regina George. And wear a nice pair of undies, just in case.
To support the Daniel Morcombe Foundation and the work they do providing resources for parents, guardians, and educators to keep kids safe, you can buy a Play For Purpose raffle ticket here.
