The Philosophy of the Safety Kid Programs
The Safety Kid methodology is founded on the following principles:
1. It takes a community to create a safe environment for a child.
A safe environment constitutes an atmosphere in which a child can focus on their personal growth and development, through academic learning and social interaction. No matter which age group our children belong to, being able to explore the world without worrying about personal safety is every child’s right and it is the responsibility of the community our children grow up in to provide that safety. Accordingly, parents, teachers and school staff need to be educated and adept in addressing and dealing with sensitive issues regarding children’s personal safety.
2. Education is imperative.
Education leads to knowledge, knowledge to skills, skills to empowerment, and empowerment to making the right choices for child safety—which, in turn, enable prevention. -Child safety education can’t just be taught to adults; it has to happen on both sides of the power dynamic. Statistics show that over 90% of abusers are known and trusted by the child. Saying ‘no’ to an adult’s or older child’s inappropriate behavior is difficult at the best of times. Saying ‘no’ to an adult the child trusts or is dependent on, without any training of what to say or do, is almost impossible. Therefore, for the greatest chance at child safety, educating children is absolutely imperative.
3. Including children *and* adults in prevention models is essential for effective children’s safety.
The Safety Kid program factors in all of these components to provide training and tools, education and information to all groups in a child’s community: school administration, educators and school staff, parents and the children themselves.