Developing Social Skills to keep children SAFE, STRONG, and
FREE!
Last week, CAP counselors met with classes to build safety
skills in the event of bullying situations, unsafe strangers, or sexual assault
encounters. To learn more about Child
Assault Prevention, please visit www.FrontRangeCAP.org and look for the Parent Resources
tab.
CAP doesn’t frighten children with horror
stories. But we know that 1 in 3 girls
and 1 in 4 boys in the U.S> are sexually assaulted at least once before the
age of 18. CAP was founded on the idea
that teaching children strategies such as peer support, self-assertion, and
adult support increases a child’s resources for dealing with potentially
dangerous situations, and hopefully preventing them from occuring. CAP also recognizes the role of families in
preventing assault & held an informative presentation at NES in advance of
meeting with children.
If you missed the parenting program, here
are a few suggestions that were discussed:
1. Have your child hold up their hand and count on
their fingers as you help them brainstorm a list of five trusted adults in
their life that they could turn to whenever problems occur in their lives. BrainWise curriculum refers to these adults
as Stars in their personal Constellation of Support. Consider wise, caring adults in their family,
school, church, or neighborhood who will advise and protect them.
2. Help children practice mindfully noticing the emotional messages
their bodies send to them every day.
When their stomach gets queasy, their muscles tighten, heart rate
increases, legs shake, or they begin to sweat, these are Red Flag Warnings telling them to identify their emotion
and find ways to address the cause of it.
In BrainWise lessons, children are learning tools for self-regulating
their stress, anger, and grief, but if they are in a dangerous situation, these
body messages are also a signal to get help from an adult.
3. Help children practice using Assertive Communication and I-messages in all situations. Coach children to reframe aggressive words or
restate passive reactions into strong, clear messages.
4. Develop a sleepover safety plan with your child. Always give your child an out if they are
feeling uncomfortable. Let them know
that if they call you, you will come and get them.
5. Predators can tell if a child has
been educated and if parents are paying
attention to where their child is, who they are with, and what they are doing. Predators
pay attention to children whose parents aren’t paying attention.
6. Discuss not
sharing personal information with others, in person or over the
Internet. Children should not tell their
full names and address to strangers.
7. Always make a point to have the following
discussion in front of your child and the babysitter before leaving a new sitter alone with your children for the first
time: “I know you will do great tonight
and follow our family rules. If anything
happens while I’m gone that upsets you, we will talk about it first thing when
I get home.”
8. Ask a child if
they want to give a relative or friend a hug or kiss. Do not force children to share their bodies
with others, even those they love. Help
children know how to be safe, strong, & free!
Ann Sherman, Social Emotional Learning Instructor and Parenting Matters
Coordinator at NES
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