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Kidpower, a global leader in personal safety education for children, is reminding parents that the trick to having a fun, safe Halloween is to Stay Aware and to teach your children to do the same. As adults, we need to Stay Aware that:
Safety does not take a holiday. Don’t let the relaxed atmosphere and distractions of holiday activities fool you into getting trapped by the Illusion of Safety. Stay aware of where your children are, whom they are with, and what they are doing.
Kids need to be reminded of their safety rules. Last Halloween was a year ago, and that’s a long time in the life of a child. Review the rules about trick or treating with your children – and have them repeat the rules back to you. Remind kids to Stay Aware, Stay Together, Check First before they change their plan, and Think First if you are not available. Give kids a plan for how to get help if they get lost.
People are safer crossing the street if they can see. Avoid costumes that make it hard to Stay Aware of cars and other hazards.
Kids need adult supervision to stay safe. Even if your kids really want to, don’t let them go out without adult protection until they have the knowledge and skills they need to take charge of their emotional and physical safety.
Giving the right answer is not the same as being prepared to make the safest choice. Just knowing what to do is not enough – you also have to be able to do it even if you feel embarrassed, confused, or uncomfortable. Give children and teens opportunities to practice personal safety skills successfully, and show you that they can use them consistently before deciding to let them go anywhere on their own.
For more information, read the full article, Halloween Safety – The Kidpower Way: A Grab Bag of Safety Treats and Tricks for Your Family!
And, learn how you can make a difference by joining Kidpower’s new One Million Safer Kids campaign.
Published: October 18, 2011 | Last Updated: October 10, 2016
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.
