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