Last week my daughter’s kindergarten organized a seminar about protecting your child’s safety for predators, and I learned from the speaker, Pattie Fitzgerald, a lot of crucial information about safeguarding our children’s personal safety from dangerous sexual predators and abusers. 

In the seminar, Pattie shared many lesser known facts about child abuse, and 10 ways to teach your child from an early age about important knowledge of protecting himself and herself from dangerous strangers (and sadly, in many cases, from known people too). 


Did you know ?

 

  • ·       it takes less than a minute for a predator to lure a child away? 
  • ·       90% of childhood sexual abuse occurs by someone the child knows? 
  • ·       even very young children can be taught some important safety rules and skills?

 

  • 10 Things Parents Should Teach Their Kids Protecting Their Personal Safety

 

 

  1.  I am THE BOSS OF MY BODY!
  2. I know my name, address & phone number...and my parents' cell phone number, too.
  3. Safe Grownups Don't Ask Kids for Help. (They go to other adults for assistance.)
  4. I never go ANYWHERE or take ANYTHING from someone I don't know...no matter what they say.
  5. I always CHECK FIRST and get permission before: I go anywhere, change my plans, or TAKE SOMETHING even if it's from someone I know.  If I can't check first, then answer is "NO!"
  6. Everyone's "bathing suit areas" are private.  No bathing suit area games allowed.
  7. I don't have to be POLITE if someone makes me feel scared or uncomfortable.  It's okay to say NO! Even to a grownup or bigger kid if I have to.
  8. I don't keep SECRETS from my parents.  (No one should tell a child to keep a secret from their parents, esp. one that involves their bodies.)
  9. If I ever get lost in a public area, I can FREEZE & YELL or go to a MOM WITH KIDS and ask for help.
  10. I always listen to my own inner voice...esp. if I get an "uh-oh" feeling.


Recommended Reading:


Pattie also wrote a children's book called "No Trespassing - This is My Body!"  This will be our bedtime reading for this week.  Read more about this helpful book at amazon.com