A habit is an acquired pattern or routine behavior that, when repeated consistently, becomes almost involuntary. We are all creatures of habit.

Much like good habits—which keep us focused, productive, and closer to our goals—bad habits can disrupt, waste time, and jeopardize the health and safety of your organization. So why do we continue to engage in bad habits? What can we do about them?

Bad habits are typically caused by two factors: false assumptions and pressure. Bad safety habits are often attributed to feeling overwhelmed, understaffed, and pressured to make a good impression or keep people happy by not inconveniencing them. Recognizing the cause of bad safety habits is essential to overcoming or replacing them with better ones.

Here are some of the worst child safety habits—and how to change them:

1. Inconsistency in Following Established Guidelines
Inconsistency creates confusion, especially regarding child safety standards. Consistency, on the other hand, is a fundamental building block for developing trust and stability. People want clarity. They don’t want to wonder what rules apply to them or when—and if—they should be followed.

Replace the habit by always following your safety guidelines and requiring others to do the same. Make no exceptions, even for those with whom you are familiar. What is expected of one must be expected of all—even if it is inconvenient.

2. Making False Assumptions
False assumptions—like the “It will never happen here” mentality—are passive behaviors that can cause you to let your guard down, increasing the risk of becoming a target for offenders. For example, thinking abuse could never happen in your organization because “I know everyone—they’re friends, family, and people I see daily,” creates a false sense of security. You may know about people, but you don’t always know what goes on behind closed doors.

Replace the habit by proactively protecting your organization and consistently communicating your commitment to child safety. Again, be consistent—no matter how well you think you know someone.

3. Not Screening Candidates
This often results from a lack of resources—volunteers, money, time, or know-how. However, screening prevents bad behavior and provides a layer of protection that deters inappropriate access to kids. Without it, it’s hard to know if someone should have contact with children or if they have a concerning history.

Replace the habit by investing resources to get to know those applying to work directly with kids. Establish a comprehensive screening process, work to gain leadership buy-in, and ask families, volunteers, and peers to help raise the visibility and importance of the issue.

4. Providing Minimal Education and Training
There is often a lack of training and education due to limited resources, scheduling conflicts, or poor information sharing. However, training is directly tied to your team’s success, volunteer longevity, and family engagement.

Replace the habit by incorporating information sharing into regular weekly, monthly, or quarterly meetings, get-togethers, or executive sessions. If possible, form a training committee to help ensure policies are followed and everyone is aligned.

5. Operating Without a Child Protection Policy (CPP)
The purpose of a CPP is to define how an organization intends to protect and care for the children it serves. Whether your organization is small or large, functioning without one is never a good idea. A CPP ensures that everyone coming into contact with kids has been screened and follows a defined set of principles that minimize gray areas.

Replace the habit by updating an outdated policy or investing the resources to create a new one. No single policy fits every situation—each should be tailored to your mission, size, facility design, values, and goals.

6. Not Establishing a Check-In or Out Process
Secure children’s check-in is about more than attendance tracking. It equips you with tools that improve child safety, increase data accessibility, and build connections with families. Whether you use pen and paper or a digital solution, specific tracking measures are essential.

Replace the habit by instituting a check-in and check-out process that reduces risk and liability, provides vital safety information, and ensures children are released only to authorized individuals.

It’s easy to fall into bad safety habits, but being aware of them—and intentionally working to replace them over time—is the goal. You don’t have to fix everything at once. Start by rethinking your processes. When you change your thinking, you change your environment—and ultimately your habits.

Angela Lewton is KidCheck’s child protection specialist. KidCheck provides secure children’s and youth check-in systems. Angela focuses on the latest child safety research and trends. She is passionate about equipping organizations to improve child safety.