As the start of school is approaching and some have already started, we want to share some self-protection topics to talk about with your kids to keep them safe.
One of our favorite quotes is “your body cannot take you where your mind has not been.”
We love sharing this quote because it makes people think about how important it is to take themselves on a “what if” journey. Think about what you would do in a variety of threatening situations. What is your plan for your own safety? If this is not in place and you encounter a threatening situation, you will not be as confident or decisive when it really counts!
The same goes for your kids. Inform them about stories in the news and ask what they would do in the same situation. This will give you a good gauge of how they think and might handle other threatening situations. Guide them accordingly, even role play other types of situations to prepare them if they should ever encounter anything similar.
In addition, the best thing is to always travel with a buddy if possible. Show that you are alert and aware of your surroundings. Bad guys like to take their victims by surprise.
We teach that if a stranger is nice to you, consider it a red flag. Practice saying no like you mean it! Talk with your kids that yes means yes and NO MEANS NO! If someone doesn’t respect when you say NO, it’s not a good person and you could be in danger.
If you are stopped by a stranger, keep moving along to your destination. Good people (interacting with your child) will understand and respect this.
All the best to the families out there in our communities!
