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When teaching Kidpower in a classroom, we ask the students, “Who would you go to for help if you have a safety problem?”
We encourage them to come up with lots of ideas – and then sometimes turn to their teacher and ask, “What about YOU? Suppose your kids here have a safety problem, can they come to YOU for help?”
Of course, each teacher will immediately turn to their students and say in a heartfelt way, “YES! You CAN come to me no matter what. And I WILL help you!”
The problem is that far more often kids hear messages that can conflict with the idea of getting help – such as “Don’t bother me. I”m too busy.” “Don’t upset anyone.” “Be polite.” “That’s private.”
This is why we now recommend that all adults leaders give the Kidpower Protection Promise to every young person in their care. In honor of April being Child Abuse Prevention Month, please discuss this message today and keep talking about the importance of getting help when you have problems.
YOU are VERY important to me. If you have a safety problem, I want to know – even if I seem too busy, might get upset, or don’t understand at first – even if someone we care about will be upset- even if you promised not to tell, feel embarrassed, or made a mistake. Please tell me, and I will do everything in my power to help you!
April is also Sexual Assault Prevention Month – and, because secrecy and shame can be so much a part of sexual assault – or any kind of bullying, harassment, or social or physical aggression – we also recommend that adults make the Kidpower Protection Promise to each other – because we all deserve to have help instead of dealing with problems in isolation.
Sometimes a few words said at just the right time can create a bridge to help for someone who is suffering. And reminding kids and adults alike that they matter is an essential step in our vision of working together to create cultures of respect and safety for everyone, everywhere.
Honor April as Child Abuse Prevention Month by sharing these
Cartoon Illustrated Kidpower Protection Promise posters from
the newest editions of our Kidpower Safety Comics series:
For Younger Children (ages 3-10)
Published: April 5, 2016 | Last Updated: April 5, 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.