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Every Age

Whether your child is 5 or 15, set some general safety ground rules for the school year:

• Plan how your student will go back and forth to school. Most little ones know not to accept rides from strangers. But older kids should avoid accepting rides from newly licensed friends unless they have your permission.
• Talk about when friends can come over after school.
• Remind your kids about keeping their cell phones on (if they have them) so you always have a way to contact them. Just be sure your instructions, such as muting, take into account school phone policies.
• Post computer rules. How many hours of "screen time" (computer, electronic games, television) will be permitted each day? What channels and sites are allowed? Now is a good time to check out the latest in site-blocking computer software and to revisit the parental controls on your television.
• Review your coverage on your computers and other electronics. With more kids toting electronic gadgets, the risk of damage is higher than ever. Most general homeowner policies do not cover computer damage unless it's part of fire or general property damage, so you may want to consider a rider on your policy.

Kindergartners through Middle Schoolers

Your littlest scholars have their own safety issues to address:

• Make walking to school a group affair. In areas without school bus service, organize a "walking school bus" with a designated adult accompanying a group of neighborhood children.
• Preach cycling safety. If your child bikes to school, make helmet use mandatory. Talk about where to store it during school. Invest in a bike lock and teach your child to use it.
• Drive smart. While carpooling, all children under the age of 13 should ride in the rear seat, as advised by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
• Don't reenact Home Alone. The Academy also advises that no child younger than 13 should come home to an empty house after school.

High Schoolers

It might seem like your teens aren't listening, but they are. Address these critical safety issues:

• Preach bike safety -- still. Just because they're teens doesn't mean they're too cool for bicycle helmets. According to the Children's Safety Network, cyclists ages 19 and under are more likely to die of head injuries than older cyclists.
• Deter driving distractions. Car crashes are the leading cause of death in teens. Discuss and require seat belt use, limit passengers, ban cell phone use and texting while driving (and be a good role model), and limit driving at night or during problematic weather.
• Check your insurance. If you have a child who is driving with a learner's permit, check with your representative as to whether they need to be covered by your insurance policy. Insurance laws vary from state to state.
• Sign it. Consider a driving contract, an informal agreement that specifies rules and expectations for both young drivers and their parents. You and your child can create one together. Or there are several online.
• Pick safe friends. Caution your teens about riding with other young drivers. Specify when and with whom it's acceptable. Also talk about what to do if a driver has been using drugs or alcohol, and create a Plan B with your teen.

College Students

By this age your kids probably have a good handle on what they need to do to stay safe. Your job now is to provide backup protection when accidents or poor judgment lead to trouble:

• Safeguard their stuff. All that rockin' equipment your student has accumulated -- from MP3 players to computers -- needs to be protected. One dorm room theft can mean a loss of thousands of dollars. Your existing homeowner's policy may have them covered. Otherwise, consider purchasing renters insurance or computer coverage.
• Safeguard their health. With most health insurance, it's easy to keep students under a parent's coverage. (Make sure they have their insurance card, prescription card and dental card.) During registration ensure that the college doesn't automatically sign your student up for additional health care that's not needed.
• Safeguard their choices. Students going off to college are exposed to new experiences, which can sometimes be fueled by alcohol and other substances. Have a frank discussion about these situations well before you wave goodbye.