Our belief in ourselves as being powerful, competent, and valuable is the most important self-protection tool we have. Kidpower provides experiences that build these positive beliefs – and that protect young people and adults from harm.
People who have been abused, bullied, or assaulted often struggle with feeling helpless, scared, ashamed, and alone. Practicing how to keep themselves safe in the future can be immensely healing.
Here is a powerful story about how John Luna-Sparks, Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Kidpower Trainer, uses Kidpower in his practice:
“I am a family therapist, and I’ve worked with many children who have suffered abuse. One of my clients kept having nightmares about the abuser coming after her, even after months of therapy. Because I am also a Kidpower instructor, I have seen many times how gaining skills in what to say and do to get out of a deeply upsetting situation can be powerful in healing from trauma.
“I told my client that we were going to pretend someone was about to bother her and then coached her to practice setting a boundary with her hands and saying, ‘STOP!’ Next, she practiced leaving, going to her parents, and saying, ‘I need help.’
After several sessions of rehearsing with my client how to use Kidpower’s boundary-setting and help-seeking skills, she told me that her nightmares had stopped.”
Published: November 29, 2024 | Last Updated: November 29, 2024
Irene van der Zande, Kidpower Founder and Executive Director
Kidpower Founder and Executive Irene van der Zande is a master at teaching safety through stories and practices and at inspiring others to do the same. Her child protection and personal safety expertise has been featured by USA Today, CNN, Today Moms, the LA Times, and The Wall Street Journal. Publications include: cartoon-illustrated Kidpower Safety Comics and Kidpower Teaching Books curriculum; Bullying: What Adults Need to Know and Do to Keep Kids Safe; the Relationship Safety Skills Handbook for Teens and Adults; Earliest Teachable Moment: Personal Safety for Babies, Toddlers, and Preschoolers; The Kidpower Book for Caring Adults: Personal Safety, Self-Protection, Confidence, and Advocacy for Young People, and the Amazon Best Seller Doing Right by Our Kids: Protecting Child Safety at All Levels.