By Cynthia Grau/WJEZ News

With many schools and universities declaring this time of year Spring Break, Livingston County Sheriff Tony Childress is giving tips to help children and youth stay safe.

Some of the suggestions Childress gave are to make sure to protect children who are home alone, talk with children about safety and for parents to take responsibility for their children.

“We as parents need to know where our children are at all times and we need to be familiar with their friends and their daily activities. The communication that we as parents have with our children is vital,” Childress said.

Childress said teaching children these safety precautions will ultimately lead to stronger children becoming strong adults.

“We’re teaching children at a very early age to practice good decision making. The chances are that when they’re older, they’re going to continue on that path,” Childress said.

For more information, visit the sheriff’s department website at livingstoncountysheriff.com.