Author | Permission to Use Info
In today’s troubled times, more than ever, all children need to know that they can turn to and trust an adult for help. As part of September’s Child Protection Advocacy Month, Kidpower International is sharing four important steps plus free resources that can make a lasting difference in a child’s life and help to transform the fear of bullying, violence, and abuse into a future of lifelong safety and success for today’s youth.
Too many kids suffer from harm that could have been prevented. And too often, they feel miserable and alone. Our goal is to encourage every adult – parent, family member, teacher, mentor, safety officer, neighbor, coach, everyone – to take action to make sure that our kids know we care and that we will do everything in our power to help them.
In our overly-busy lives, if we get distracted and don’t pay attention, we leave kids who are struggling with problems in limbo. We need to remember that adult leadership is essential to keeping our kids safe. For example, when a child or teen is asking for help or showing stress, put away your technology. Then: Stop. Listen. Notice. Acknowledge their thoughts and feelings. And provide support in helping to solve the problem.
To partner with us in this important initiative, I hope you will join me in taking the following actions this week:
1. Watch the 1 minute Kidpower Protection Promise video and make this promise to the important people in your life – both kids and adults – and share the promise with others.
2. Download and print our FREE Kidpower Protection Promise posters – we have these in 7 languages – and our Put Safety First and Safety and Respect posters and post on your wall to serve as a reminder.
3. Read and share the International Child Protection web page and this press release with your personal, social, and professional networks, to promote child safety in every community.
Please contact me with your questions, stories, and suggestions.
Published: September 6, 2017 | Last Updated: September 6, 2017
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.
