by Irene van der Zande, Kidpower Founder and Executive Director | Jan 11, 2014
Since 1989, Kidpower’s Positive Practice™ Teaching Method has helped countless people of all ages and abilities to change habits of using weak, rude, or other ineffective behavior to habits of using powerful and respectful behavior in their relationships with others,with themselves, and with the world around them.
by Irene van der Zande, Kidpower Founder and Executive Director | Apr 16, 2013
15-year-old Audrie Potts from Saratoga, California, took her life after expressing her despair online about being sexually assaulted and cyberbullied. Her parents only found these messages when searching for reasons after her death. According to some estimates, teens spend half their lives online. These electronic worlds are too dangerous for our kids to live in without the knowledge and guidance of the adults who love them.
Too many times, adults don’t discover online messages about cyberbullying, parties with heavy drinking, or warning signs of despair or violence until after something terrible has happened, when the opportunity to take protective action is gone.
by Irene van der Zande, Kidpower Founder and Executive Director | Dec 13, 2012
Kidpower’s vision of working together to create cultures of caring, respect, and safety for everyone, everywhere is a lofty goal that is often challenging to make real in our daily lives. Here some resources that can help.
by Irene van der Zande, Kidpower Founder and Executive Director | Oct 9, 2012
Last week, I had the honor of speaking at a press conference held by San Fransisco District Attorney George Gascon to kick off their subcommittee’s “Bye Bye Bullying” video contest for middle and high school students in San Francisco, for which I am a Judge and Kidpower is a co-sponsor.
by Irene van der Zande, Kidpower Founder and Executive Director | Jul 12, 2012
Bullying Prevention Expert and Kidpower Leader, Irene van der Zande, calls for adults to turn anxiety into positive action to stop bullying. Here are five practical and positive actions adults can start immediately to turn the tide of bullying and help create schools, neighborhoods and communities of caring, respect and safety for all of their members.
by Irene van der Zande, Kidpower Founder and Executive Director | Jul 9, 2012
Make sure your kids are prepared to avoid and escape from danger on the way to school, a friend’s house, the store, or anytime they go out without adult protection. Download a free one-page “Kidpower Safety Checklist for Parents” about how to prepare kids and assess to ensure they are ready to recognize potential danger and make safe choices immediately.
by Irene van der Zande, Kidpower Founder and Executive Director | Jul 9, 2012
Here are five steps Kidpower recommends to protect children from being betrayed by someone they love and trust.
by Irene van der Zande, Kidpower Founder and Executive Director | Jun 30, 2012
Watching the video of school bus monitor Karen Klein being cruelly bullied by four boys makes me want to stand up and shout, ‘STOP THE BUS!’ Parents and teachers need to teach kids how to recognize destructive behavior, resist peer pressure, speak up when they see someone acting unsafely, and get help. School staff, including bus monitors and playground supervisors, need training and support to stop kids from engaging in bullying of anyone in the moment.
by Irene van der Zande, Kidpower Founder and Executive Director | Jun 17, 2012
Violence because of someone’s sexual orientation and identify is just as much of a hate crime as violence due to other forms of prejudice. Both during PRIDE Week and at other times, we encourage members of the LGBTQ community and their allies to be proud of who they are – and to keep these seven People Safety strategies from Kidpower.org in mind so they can celebrate with safety and confidence.
by Irene van der Zande, Kidpower Founder and Executive Director | May 23, 2012
Bullying Prevention Expert and Kidpower Leader, Irene van der Zande, calls for adults to turn anxiety nto positive action to stop bullying. Here are five practical and positive actions adults can start immediately to turn the tide of bullying and help create schools, neighborhoods and communities of caring, respect and safety for all of their members.