PROTECT THE CHILDREN
CHILD SAFETY
When children know what to do,
they have a much better chance
of staying safe than those who do not.
Teaching them basic crime prevention
techniques at an early age can significantly
reduce their chance of being victimized.
No one wants the child
to be fearful or paranoid.
Making a game out of
role playing different situations
and acting out the best response
will emphasize what kids can do
to protect themselves
without instilling
the negative feelings of distress.
We can teach the basics,
certain things the child
must learn as early as possible.
His or her full name,
his or her full address,
and phone number
including the area code.
Both parent�s names.
How to dial O or 911
in an emergency
(You can unplug your phone
and let the child practice.)
Where to go for help.
Safe places include
a trusted friends house,
the police station,
the fire station,
busy stores,
restaurants,
the school
and other public places.
Accompany your child
along his or her route
to school, for example,
and show the child
which places are safe
to go in an emergency.
How to say NO!
It is imperative
that the child understands
that he or she has the right to protest,
if someone�s touch
makes them uncomfortable.
If accosted by a stranger,
he or she must yell loudly
"This man is not my father!"
or
"This woman is not my mother!"
Kids who simply
struggle and scream
may appear to be
pitching a tantrum.
Be streetwise.
Travel and play in groups.
Avoid dark isolated areas
such as vacant lots or buildings.
If someone is following you in a car,
turn around and walk in the opposite direction.
Drivers are not likely to attract attention
to themselves by turning around too.
Stay at least 20 feet
from the door of a car,
if someone has stopped
to talk or ask directions.
Demonstrate this distance
over and over and over!
Emphasize to the child
that it is perfectly okay to say
"I don�t know!"
and to walk away.
Stay alert,
walk confidently
and pay attention
to your surroundings.
Criminals are good
at spotting easy victims
such as kids who look lost,
confused, sad, upset or crying.
The child should sit close
to the driver on a bus
and know his or her stop.
Stay alert and avoid
burying your head in a book,
wearing earphones
or sleeping.
Do not allow the child to wear
expensive jewelry or watches.
Teach them to surrender
Do not try to argue.
immediately
money
or any other item
a mugger demands.
The mugger
may have a weapon.
Be school safety smart.
Do not assume
he or she is safe there.
Attend school board meetings
and join the PTA.
Most important,
talk to your child!
Is he or she fearful
of school
or of certain students?
Why?
Follow up on the comments.
Talk to the principal
to get both sides
of the story
before taking action.
If necessary,
as a last resort,
consider changing schools.
Talk frankly
with the child
about avoiding students
who use drugs, smoke,
drink, carry weapons
or seem to be involved
in frequent fights.
Be neighborhood safety smart.
Teach your child
Know the child�s friends
If your child baby-sits,
Set rules
to keep you informed
of his or her
whereabouts at all times,
even if they are just going
across the street or next door.
including their parent�s full names
and where they live.
get the address
and phone number
of the home where
he or she will be found.
on how late your child will stay,
and have them call you
before they leave for home
and confirm the route
they intend to travel.
Sometimes safety,
or lack of it,
is a question of looking out
for each other�s children.
Ask your neighbors to join
you in calling each other
or the police
whenever anyone sees
anything suspicious or unusual.
Home safety.
Teach the child
to lock doors and windows.
If they must be home alone,
instruct them
never to say so over the phone.
Tell the child to say
"My parents are busy.
May I take a message?"
Hands on practice
will reinforce good safety habits.
If your child is the victim
Listen carefully.
Above all,
If your child is the victim of a serious crime,
of a seemingly insignificant crime,
take him or her seriously.
do not blame your youngster
for what happens. No one
deserves to be victimized
~ especially a child.
you should seek outside help immediately.
For information of referrals call one of the following.
The National Organization for Victim Assistance
1-800-TRY-NOVA
The National Victim Center
1-800-FYI-CALL
The National Crime Prevention Council
Department RD
1700 K Street NW
Washington DC 20006
The National Child Safety Council
also distributes helpful safety information
through local law enforcement agencies.
TEACH THE KIDS
Our children see how we pursue
our personal and business agendas
with regards to others.
They are listening and watching
as we conduct
our politics and other activities.
They see acts of violence
and verbal abusiveness
by the thousands on television,
which in part, desensitizes
youth to witnessing violence.
Small wonder that violence
seems the proper course of action
instead of encouraging
sound constructive discussion
and rational problem solving.
We need to move
toward a more civilized society.
We need to turn down
the volume on our voices,
remove the hate from our speech
and begin to teach a radical concept
that each human being has value
and that such value deserves respect.
Peer mediation programs in schools
teach students how to listen to one another,
how to solve conflict without violence,
how to manage anger, communication skills,
self respect, trust
and how to express feelings
in a constructive manner.
The American Bar Association
is doing its part to promote
peer mediation programs.
They are attempting to bring
peer mediation to schools that do
not have it in their communities.
Peer mediation programs alone
will not end violence,
yet they will go a long way
toward returning us to
the peaceful human interaction
we seem to have lost.
Until we increase the positives
in the influences on our children,
we will be left with the negatives
like the lack of civility in everyday interaction,
media violence, gutter talk, back street politics
and the availability of firearms.
The American Bar Association
encourages community leaders
to start peer mediation programs
in their schools
and to make that training
in conflict resolution available to the parents.
We are never to old to learn.
If we look for problems,
we will find defeat.
If we look for success,
we will find victory.
The kids and society are more
than worth the effort.
