The Fifth Secret To Safe Kids

By: Joyce Jackson

We knwow that certain things, confidence, empowerment, positive praise (what we call 'catch them being good') and listening skills are four important elements in teaching your child to keep themselves safe.

"Repetition" is the fifth and final secret to teaching kids to keep themselves safe. This last Secret is probably the most important of all. We can teach your kids in the classroom. We can put all of our information into a book for you to read. However, it is all useless unless you use it and apply it, day in and day out at home.

Especially in younger children, where there is no mental capacity to create and build on memories, repetition is a crucial learning tool. True learning for your child, no matter what their age, however, comes with repetition. That is your job. You need to do it at home.

Repetition does not need to be boring, either. Make games out of things you want to teach. Use fun words and phrases your child uses when talking about safety. Fold in your child's favorite toys, cartoon characters or things they like into activities you do several times a week. These are simple yet exciting skills for
reinforcement activities. It's repetition with excitement. What a great way to learn for any child!

Working with our techniques is also something to do a few times a week. Stay away from daily practice routines as if this was a sport as this is the surest way to bore your child and lose their attention. Make learning safety fun. Make it exciting. Fold in the whole family and enjoy learning about true safety for a lifetime together. Below are the five elements of safe kids.

1. Build confidence.
Confidence and a positive self image are crucial in good child safety. Confident kids are less of a target for sexual predators. Not only do they stand taller and keep their heads up higher, they represent a problem, a less than easy victim for sexual predators.

Confident kids project "struggle" for any predator trolling for kids and more often than not, predators will pass them by. More often, predators will choose kids that appear weak and sad, a child in need of a friend. These are the kids that hang their heads, shuffle down the street and have a hard time looking anyone in the eye when they talk to them.

2. Empowerment.
Empowering your child to take care of themselves is one of the most powerful Safety Secret we can offer you.

Empowerment means you teach them to make choices, good choices, for themselves. When you mentor them as a parent you actually guide them into learning to make good, positive choices for themselves on their own. When they can do this, they will truly be safe for a lifetime.

3. Catch Them Being Good.
Building confidence, building a solid self image in your child, builds safety. Capitalize on this and highlight the good things they do more often than the bad things. As a matter of fact, focus on highlighting as many good things as you can rather than making a big deal about the bad things they may do.

4. Listen.
Listening to your child goes beyond the standard, "Yep. Un huh. Sure." These kinds of responses they get daily. True listening, the kind that allows your child to feel like they are really being heard and understood, is a special parenting skill.

5. Repetition.
Especially in younger children, where there is no mental capacity to create and build on memories, repetition is a crucial learning tool. True learning for your child, no matter what their age, however, comes with repetition. That is your job. You need to do it at home.

Any one of these safety secrets will allows your child a higher measure of safety. Together, they are very powerful and can help teach your child to be safe for their entire lifetime.

Information about the Author:

Joyce Jackson is a child safety expert, #1 bestselling author, consultant and speaker. For her extensive website and information see www.KeepingKidsSafeToday.com.