| Lots of kids and families are preparing | | | | and something you can easily do. |
| to head back to school right now for the | | | | Second, teach your child to keep a safe |
| start of a new school year at least "up | | | | distance from a stranger. We call it a |
| here" where we live in the US, Canada | | | | "Circle Of Safety" and it's about 15 |
| and Europe. For those of you who aren't | | | | feet. Your child can still talk to them |
| going back to school right now, or those | | | | at this distance but have time to react |
| of you that Homeschool, these tips can | | | | in case it's a bad stranger. Your child |
| still keep your child safer today than | | | | can turn and run and get safely away at |
| yesterday. | | | | this 15' distance. |
| Back To School families typically focus | | | | For the most part, this is when your |
| on new clothes, shoes, book bags and | | | | child is outdoors and finds themselves |
| school supplies. That's great. We want | | | | alone, like on a playground, on a |
| to add in a "Back To School Safer" | | | | sidewalk or in the yard, being |
| awareness to their list of things to | | | | approached by someone they don't know. |
| remember. | | | | In school, when there are lots of other |
| There are three immediate things parents | | | | students and adults around, it's just |
| can do, things you can teach your child, | | | | something they should know. |
| right away, today. It's simply about | | | | Third, teach your child to listen to |
| education, knowledge and awareness, not | | | | their "Belly Brain." This is the "gut |
| paranoia. So, when teaching these things | | | | reaction" we as adults have, that |
| to your child, keep a light-hearted | | | | instinctively tells us something is not |
| approach and atmosphere. We're endorsing | | | | right. Your child has it too. We simply |
| a better awareness for kids and | | | | have to teach them they have it and |
| families, not fear. | | | | then, to listen to it. And, teach your |
| The fact is, your child is going to be | | | | child that their "Belly Brain" is never |
| around new teachers, students, coaches, | | | | wrong. |
| counselors and acquaintances when YOU | | | | Today, this is a critical skill for your |
| Mom and Dad, are not around. Your child | | | | child to have, especially for those kids |
| needs an ability to keep themselves safe | | | | surfing the Internet. When your child |
| when they are out and about in today's | | | | reaches a website they shouldn't be on |
| world. There are a few things parents | | | | or stumbles upon one inadvertently, |
| and kids can do together at home to make | | | | their "Belly Brain" is going to go off. |
| sure they are safer this year than ever | | | | They need to know to get off that site |
| before. | | | | when their stomach feels funny and |
| First, teach your child to project | | | | signals them. |
| confidence. Confident kids are naturally | | | | If your child ever finds themselves |
| less of a target for predators. This | | | | alone in a situation with an |
| means bullies at school, too. A | | | | inappropriate adult or teenager, their |
| confident child is a child that stands | | | | "Belly Brain" is again going to go off. |
| tall, shoulders back, head high and with | | | | It is going to give them that "funny |
| eyes alert to their environment. This | | | | feeling" and when it happens, they need |
| type of posture subconsciously projects | | | | to know it is "OK" to feel that way and |
| a struggle, a notion of, "I'm not going | | | | to leave the room or place they are |
| to be that easy to pick on," to anyone | | | | immediately. They need to know it is |
| looking for a victim. | | | | "OK" for them to find a trusted adult, |
| Sad kids, those that look like they are | | | | you, and tell you about it. And, this |
| unhappy, those with stooped shoulders | | | | includes surfing the Web. |
| and a shuffling gate, look like they are | | | | We study the US Federal Bureau of |
| in need of a friend. We know many child | | | | Investigation (FBI) information to stay |
| predators like to befriend a child | | | | one step in front of child predators and |
| first, offer presents and kind words, | | | | they have some great Online Safety Tips. |
| and take their time patiently to lure a | | | | Online predators troll for kids behind |
| child into a friendship before they | | | | the anonymity of a user name and |
| abuse or molest them. | | | | keyboard. The Belly Brain can give your |
| A big part of building confidence in | | | | child an advantage in being able to take |
| your child is doing daily what we call, | | | | appropriate action if ever in a |
| "Catch Them Being Good." It's easy for | | | | situation where any danger from |
| us as parents to notice the things our | | | | predators threatens them. |
| kids do wrong. But a short moment, | | | | These three Quick Tips are really just |
| noticing your child doing something | | | | the tip of the personal child safety |
| right, and a "Hey, Sally, that was | | | | iceberg, but they are very effective. |
| great!" goes much further in teaching | | | | They are also simple and easy and you |
| your child to feel good about themselves | | | | can introduce and teach you child them |
| in only seconds a day. This is a big | | | | in just minutes a day for a lifetime of |
| first step in solid confidence building | | | | results. |