Organizations:
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
699 Prince Street
Alexandria, VA
(800)THE-LOST
www.missingkids.com
Adam Walsh Resource Center
1876 N. University Dr., Suite 306
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33322
Children’s Books:
"Looking After Myself" by Sarah Levete - Through direct messages that incorporate quotes from children, Levete explores issues of safety and physical and emotional health. Looking After Myself discusses dealing with bullying and unsafe secrets and gives examples of good and bad touches. Safety tips and the basics of good hygiene are also included. Making Friends provides suggestions for making friends and keeping them. The difference between being alone and feeling lonely is addressed in a helpful way. Learning to deal with negative feelings such as jealousy is also explored. Throughout both titles, the author asks readers to consider what their response to certain situations might be. Each one ends with a double-page spread that reviews the major points presented in the text. The large print, brief sentences, and many full-color cartoon-like drawings and photographs make these books accessible to readers. Useful resources for classroom units.--Stephani Hutchinson, Pioneer Elementary School, Sunnyside, WA
"Personal Safety" by Pete Sanders and Steve Meyers - Includes: full-color artwork and photographs, index, resource list These sensible and informative books address personal issues that concern young people, helping readers to understand difficult situations and feelings. Each subject is sensitively explored through case studies, illustrated stories, and discussion of the broader issues raised in the stories. Grades: 4-6
"Safe Passges" by Karla Hull and Kay Rolfe
"Developing Personal Safety Skills In Children With Disabilities" by Freda Ingle Briggs - All children are vulnerable to sexual abuse or danger, but for children with disabilities, the risks of being harmed are greatly magnified. This essential resource addresses these risks, presenting useful information and effective techniques that are designed to help parents, educators, and service providers teach children with disabilities how to protect themselves. Offering a curriculum of learning activities that are organized into seven modules, this important guide focuses on how to develop the self-esteem, assertiveness, and independence skills that children with disabilities need to safeguard themselves. This practical approach can he used to teach children with special needs how to identify hazardous areas and objects, take proper action when lost in a public place, handle approaches by strangers, communicate their feelings, and recognize appropriate and inappropriate touching.
"When Your Child Has Been Molested" by Joyce Case and Katheryn B. Hagans - The first book that provides families with necessary information and advice about how to cope with the knowledge that a child has been molested...covers emotional and legal issues."
"No More Secrets For Me" Oralee Wachter and Jane Aaron - by 4 short stories to be read to younger children by parents, or to be read by older children. Not as good for preschoolers.
"Something Happened to Me" by Phyllis E. Sweet, – Good for all children that have been abused or that you suspect has been abused. This is about a child that was abused and is fighting with whether or not to tell and what happens when he/she finally does tell. It shows children that it is safe to tell. I have used this book in my own counseling practice to help open the doors to discussion.
"It's My Body" by Lory Freeman - For Young Children. Teaches how to resist uncomfortable touch and that no one has a right to their body except themselves. Another excellent book.
"Never Say Yes To A Stranger" by Susan Newman - This work focuses on ten situations in which children are approached by potentially dangerous strangers. "Grades three to six."
Safety – Streetproofing, A Growing Up Safe Book from the Safety Series – A book on strangers and safety tips. Good for younger children.
Strangers, From the Safety Town Series by Dorothy Chlad – Good for younger children. Talks about strangers. One problem with this book is that it says to kick the abuser. Children must not try to physically attack their attacker. They should learn to run instead.
The Berenstein Bears Learn About Strangers, by Stan and Jan Berenstein – This is an excellent book to use with young children. There is also a video available for this story. This story emphasizes that all people are strangers, no matter what they look like or what they say, but that not all strangers are bad. It’s just better to be safe and avoid all strangers. I strongly recommend this book.
Stay Safe, Play Safe, by B. Seuling
Safety Zone, by J. Walsh
Videos:
Review From All Movie Guide: This program is an award winning production aimed at educating parents on how to teach their children to be street wise. In an increasingly complicated and dangerous world, the potential for being in harm’s way has affected the way today’s children live. Child advocate John Walsh offers tips on ways to share advice with small children and how to warn them but not frighten them about the dangers they face. Specific situations, such as talking to strangers, refusing offers of drugs, standing up to peer pressure, and other important issues are addressed. -- Rose of Sharon Winter
Review From All Movie Guide: Parents, school officials and other caretakers of young children may want to watch this video with kids they care about to help them avoid dangerous situations. Actor Carlo Imperato, still remembered by some from the TV series, Fame, narrates this video. Basic tips and safety rules are explained in a way that should help children minimize their chances of being abducted or otherwise harmed. Kids are told such things as why it's important to avoid telling strangers too much about themselves and to avoid visiting certain places by themselves. This film that may help a number of children protect themselves more effectively in the future. -- Elizabeth Smith
It’s Okay to Say No – video
Disney also makes a wonderful Winnie the Pooh (not the cartoon series) video on strangers and good and bad touches, but I can’t recall the name of it. I was able to rent it from Blockbuster Video for free.
Music:
Make the Right Choice – record
Safe, Not Sorry – record
By Pam Tims Cramer
Arm Your Child With Music – record
By William O. Johnson and Dr. John Goar
Games:
Safety Town Board Game - from the Safety Town Series
Personal Safety Flash Card
