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Summer Camp & Sports Safety – Child Abuse Prevention Tips From Kidpower.org

Ilinap · July 2, 2012 ·

Deal starts his first all day camp this week. He really wants to participate in the fun camp activities but is nervous about being there all day long. He’s always been my homebody. I’m not sure exactly what makes him so nervous other than his general timid, sweet nature. I try to be strong and uplifting and talk all singsongy about how FUN camp will be. Truth be told, after the horrific Jerry Sandusky news hit, I was reticent to send my sons to camp. I found my Mama Bear instincts getting all fiercely protective and wanted to wrap my boys into my arms and keep them in my sight. I know in my head that the camps we chose are fantastic and safe, but part of my heart waffles here. If it weren’t for the wisdom, rationale, and calm disposition of Mac Daddy, I just might have started homeschooling and keeping my kids under lock and key. In other words, I needed him to talk me off the ledge of paranoia and focus on the benefits of camp.

Today I want to share a guest video today from Irene van der Zande, the founder of Kidpower, about how to prepare your kids to protect them from child abuse at summer camp or while participating in youth sports. The whole goal is to be informed, know your options, and prepare your kids without scaring them, but in a fun way that helps them set healthy boundaries and develop great positive relationships.
The video breaks it down nicely:
  • What big questions to ask the camp or sports organization
  • What skills to practice with kids – in a fun way! – so they can set boundaries and get help if they are uncomfortable with any other kid, counselor or coach
  • What to do if you suspect or find out about abuse or something that might be leading to abuse
After you watch the video, check out Kidpower.org and The Kidpower Book – and then come back here and let’s continue the conversation about how to help our kids avoid abuse and develop trustworthy relationships with adults and peers. Deal recently completed an outstanding program called Funny Tummy Feelings that SAFEchild brings to first graders throughout our county. He learned in perfect kid context how to listen to his gut, trust his feelings, and protect himself against abuse. Where were these programs when I was a kid? Imagine the empowerment these kids must feel when they are taught to trust themselves.

I never thought abuse was as pervasive as it is. I am shocked and saddened to hear from many friends who were abused as children. This is real, even without the heinous Jerry Sandusky in the news. The real takeaway for me: be an advocate for ALL kids. That’s what community is all about.
And that, my friends, is precisely why I joined the board of SAFEchild, Wake County’s only child safety and abuse prevention organization. Our goal is to eliminate child abuse. It’s lofty indeed. But how can our mission be anything less?

Tags: child abuse, children, community, education, kids, parenting, responsibility, safety

Related Posts

  1. Help Heal Kids Hurt by Abuse – Donate to SAFEchild
  2. Clash of Values Can Kill a Friendship
  3. Not All Children Are Blanketed in Love – Support SAFEchild

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    August 16, 2012 at 8:34 AM

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