Safety should be top of mind as students make their way back to class today for the first day of school. 

A popular trend lately has been parents taking “first day of school” pictures with the child holding a chalkboard-style back-to-school sign and posting the photos on social media.  

However, information such as your child’s name, what grade they are going into, and a list of their favourite things can be dangerous if it gets into the hands of a predator. 

“People have access to social media everywhere in the world now, so maybe limiting the information you're putting on and maybe it's just a picture of them not having their name or school they are going to or what grade they are going into. The basic information is all they need for now,” said Moose Jaw Police Service school resource officer Const. Reggie Pawliw. 

The background of the photo is also something to take into consideration. A picture on the front steps of your home could identify where you live and a picture in front of the school identifies what school they are enrolled at and will be attending every day. 

Police also recommend that it may be a good time to review your privacy setting on your social media accounts to limit who can see your posts. 

Police officers holding first-day-of-school signsPolice officers show examples of which "first of day school" signs are appropriate and which ones share too much information. (Photo courtesy: Saskatchewan RCMP)

With kids excited to get back to school, motorists are reminded to slow down in school zones and pay extra attention. Motorists should also watch for school buses with flashing lights when they are stopped and take caution and slow down when passing school buses. 

For kids, Pawliw said cell phone use can become a distraction when kids are trying to cross the street. 

“I guess one for kids now of all ages because cell phones are obviously becoming a lot more popular with younger youth, is I see lots of the kids on their cell phones crossing the road,” Pawliw said.  

“So, the big one for students is to, obviously, look both ways before crossing the street and not to be on their cell phones when crossing and not run across the street at this point.” 

To help prevent children from crossing the street, Pawliw recommended that parents park as close to the school as possible when picking up and dropping off their children. 

Pawliw added that now is a good time for parents to sit down with their children to have a discussion on how to stay safe during the school year.