After the attempted abduction reported in the news last year, our public children’s classes have experienced the highest demand ever. Several parents confided that though they had delayed sending their children to a class for a variety of reasons, seeing these news stories crystallized the need for them.?
I think that it’s very important for parents to know what we teach in class before registering their child(ren). So, I talk with families about it being taught in a fun, friendly, and non-scary way; I describe the different aspects: awareness, verbal, and physical skills; strangers, people they know, bullies, a safe person who can help…
I then describe the premise the entire class hinges on. I tell them that we ask the 6-12 year-olds, “If you are with an adult, whose job it is to keep you safe?” The children usually answer in chorus, “The adult’s!” In this way, they can clarify that the skills they are learning are for only when they are alone.
They’re very clear about it, you see. However, after six hours of training, often a 6 year-old knows more in a factual, experiential, proven way about personal safety than his/her parent.
In order to care for your children, you have to know more than them in key areas. If I want my child to eat well, I have to know what foods to buy. Certainly, I hope that she will choose well when alone based on what I’ve taught her and what she’s learned in school, but the overall fitness of her diet depends on me and she knows that.
We must learn to take care of ourselves in order to care for our young people. Knowing that his/her guardian can protect him/her in case of danger is much of what makes a child feel safe. It’s even better when you know that it’s true.