Book Description

This friendly little book acknowledges kids’ fears and makes them aware of things they need in order to feel safe in different situations. They learn, for instance, to look both ways when crossing a road, to wear special clothing for sports, to know their parents’ names, phone number, and emergency numbers, and many other details. A First Look At… is an easy-to-understand series of books for younger children. Each title explores emotional issues and discusses the questions such difficulties invariably raise among kids of preschool through early school age. Written by a psychotherapist and child counselor, each title promotes positive interaction among children, parents, and teachers. The books are written in simple, direct language that makes sense to younger kids. Each title also features a guide for parents on how to use the book, a glossary, suggested additional reading, and a list of resources. There are attractive full-color illustrations on every page. (Ages 4–7) ... Read more

Book Description

Preschool children learn safe boundaries, how to distinguish between "good" and "bad" touches, and how to respond appropriately to unwanted touches.This book is a powerful book for enhancing self-esteem.Parenting Press's bestseller! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Very needed...
There are many plusses to this book. That it was even written and is available is a HUGE plus. It is a message that children need to hear...over and over and over...That it is their body. That they have the right to feel *good* or *not good* about what someone is doing to it...and that they can say that, LOUDLY.

I do wish it was more visually *interesting* as it really is geared to younger childen. It could use more color to keep up the interest. Unfortunately, I tended to lose my son's interest when I was reading this... When he was young a *message book* wasn't strong enough reason to sit still, he visually needed the pictures. That said, I still did read this when from time to time. I would just pick up where I *lost* him the previous time.

The importance of this message can't be underscored enough and I don't think that the lack of visual *punch* is enough of a reason to not buy this. On the contrary, I think you should find every way you can to teach this message to your children.

Excellent empowerment for any child
When I worked with abused kids, I came across a wonderful paperback book called "It's My Body" in which a little kid talks about how he/she (drawing is quite gender-neutral) likes giving and receiving some touches, like when Daddy holds his hand or when he climbs into Mommy's lap. He doesn't like giving or receiving some touches, like when GreatAunt Sally hugs him too tight or when someone he doesn't know very well wants him to give them a kiss. If he receives or is asked to give a touch he doesn't like, he says, "Don't do that. I don't like it!" or "I won't do that. I don't like it!" (I believe it mentioned some necessary touches like seeing the doctor...)

We took the book in to my son's pre-K and read it to the class, and all the kids got to chime in and say in a big loud voice, "Don't do that. I don't like it!" They loved it. It is a very non-threatening book, but it allows the child to practice noncompliance in a big loud voice with lots of approval from trusted adults.

Most child molesters select their victims based on the victim's compliance. A young child is naturally reluctant to refuse the demands of an adult. If you train the child from babyhood that he is not only allowed but encouraged to state his noncompliance with some demands on his body, you have given the child a tool to protect himself. A loud refusal attracts attention, which is the LAST thing a pedophile wants, and it may well scare off a predator.

Is it sometimes embarrassing for the parent? Yes! When GreatAunt Sally tries to hug your 3-year-old child and he loudly proclaims, "Don't do that. I don't like it!" you do have a little explaining to do.... When you reach out to give your four-year-old a kiss and he says, "Don't do that. I don't want kisses anymore," it is *very* hard to catch yourself and calmly say, "OK, it's your body and you have the right to decide that." (It was certainly hard for me!)

This is a wonderful book to help any parent make his child less vulnerable to abuse, either physical or sexual. It is very easy to read with your child, very non-threatening, and can be quite fun. I highly recommend it.

It's My Body review
This book is a good effort & very simply based. However, the illustrations are very plain & non-colorful. It was not very sucessful in keeping my child's interest & attention. It is not specific about good/bad-touch examples, but more about how one might feel about them. Unfortunately, I think a child's feelings are often quite confused in regards to this issue, especially when programmed in a continual incestual relationship. So, the message in this book might not be understood by a young child. It could be a helpful book in some cases, but I'm looking for something more helpful. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Commonsense guide, appealing to a variety of ages
This book gives clear, concise descriptions of how a child or young adolescent might handle the unexpected--embarassing, frightening or even life threatening situations.

Each situation is briefly stated on a single page in large type. The next page gives clear instructions on how to get the situation under control and when to call for help. Some of the situations include: dealing with an electrical blackout, being followed by a stranger, finding an injured animal, and what to do when a friend appears to have sustained a head injury.

I showed this book to children of varying ages. It elicited interest from children as young as six and as old as high school. One bright six-year-old buried himself in the book, sounding out the hard words because the information made him feel empowered. Older children picked and chose which situations they read but liked the straightforward approach.

This book would be good for a general population of children and young adolescents. However, it would be especially helpful to children who have social skills deficits.

Great choice for special education teachers and SLP's
This is a good tool for a special education teacher or Speech language pathologists' bag of tricks. It works great with small groups of students and can be adapted for classroom discussions. It is especially useful when working with children who have pragmatic difficulties.

Good book, but some parts are more appropriate for older kid
I thought it was good book, giving guidence to kids in some common and not so common situations. However, I believe some parts are more appropriate for older kids.

This was a good common sense book for kids except page 116
This book is part of our school's family peace backpack along with a video, popcorn, and info on how to get along. There is an error on page 116 of the 1990 version. It mentions that you should put petroleum jelly on ticks to make them get off you. It does not work, the tick has plenty of oxygen, it will not suffocate. It may delay a person using tweezers to get the tick off and the person could get a disease from the tick. I have not seen the 1991 version to see if this has been corrected. Thank you ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Good Learning Book for Preschoolers
I purchased this book to start to teach my 3 year old about calling 9-1-1. The phone actually works. When you dial 911 correctly, it sounds the alarm and says good job. If you dial incorrectly, it makes a beeping noise. The book does not detail the emergencies, but teaches the basics of giving your name and some circumstances of why you may have to call 911. My daughter likes playing with the phone and practicing dialing 911. Hopefully, she will never have to use it but it is good to be prepared. ... Read more

Book Description

Have you ever had to deal with a stranger who made you feel uncomfortable or been threatened by a bully in the schoolyard? Did you know that there are things you can do now that will help you be better prepared the next time around?

Most people think self-defense means fighting, but the best defense has nothing to do with hitting, kicking, or punching. In this book, written by two prominent personal safety instructors, you will discover how to protect yourself by being aware of your surroundings and by using your body language to let people know you're not an easy target. There are ways to avoid being a victim of violence. This powerful handbook provides nonviolent solutions.

Donna Chaiet is the founder and president of Prepare, Inc., a national self-defense program for children and adults, and Francine Russell is an instructor with IMPACT Personal Safety, Inc., in Los Angeles. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Teaches the prevention aspect of bullying
This excellent book could either be used as a vehicle for parent-child discussion, or as a part of a school curriculum. It would be good for older elementary school and for middle school students. It covers a wide variety of safety and personal boundary issues. In this regard, it is superior to many books on personal safety. It presents stories of children and adolescents who are each faced with a dilemma which might put them in a dangerous or uncomfortable situation. It then discusses the options and the possible outcomes.

I like the fact that it starts by teaching kids how to avoid being bullied in the first place.

Carol E. Watkins, M.D.

Very practical advice
This book is chock full of very practical advice. It contains story after story written in a way to seem very realistic -- exactly a situation you could imagine would really happen. Then they give very specific andworkable solutions. I am buying a copy to use in my kid's self defenseclasses. Many self defense books carry very unrealistic solutions or advicethat seems too distant from the real situation. This book will reallyempower kids. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Techniques and life teachings of wilderness survival
Great book for children and adults that Love their kids enough, to give them simple learning skills that could come in handy, when we least expect it. I know of kid's that have already truly been saved by the lessons taught in such a way that, children remember them forever. Everyone should have a copy of this fine work in their home, because we all like the outdoors, but we never know when we might need the guiding know-how in this handbook. As willy says, "make it back safe." ... Read more

Amazon.com

Little Jessica worries about everything: waking up in time for school,filling her dog's water dish, learning new steps in ballet, doing her spellinghomework (she's not even sure how to spell "worry"--"Wurry"? "Werry"? "Worry"?).But now her teacher, Mr. Martin, has given her something new to fret about: It'sFire Prevention Week, and her class has to present what they're learning to theentire school. "'Oh, no,' moaned Jessica."

Author Margery Cuyler and illustrator Arthur Howard helped Jessica through herlast tight spot in 100th DayWorries, and you can bet they'll see her through again--but not, ofcourse, without a lot of hair-pulling. As the week passes, Jessica learns how tokeep her home and family safe--"Smoke alarms! Sprinklers! Jessica had never seeneither in her house"--and proceeds to pester everyone at the dinner table to geton the ball, planning escape routes and installing smoke detectors. But then Mr.Martin piles on more: rules about space heaters and matches and extension cords("She'd never be able to remember so many things!").

But the real test comes when she has to memorize the biggest rule of them all,what to do if you catch fire--"Catch fire! Jessica had never beenso worried in her life"--which she then has to demonstrate for the entireschool! How can she possibly remember? "Flop, mop, and stroll? Stop, pop, andhole?" Only time will tell for this young worrywart, but readers will have funfinding outwhether her memory fails her--and, of course, learn quite a bitabout fire safety along the way. A fun and useful book, but be warned: if you'rehoping to avoid an obnoxious inquisition at the dinner table, make sure you testyour smoke alarms before you read this with your kid. (Ages 4 to 8) --PaulHughes ... Read more

Book Description

Recommended by members of Parents Anonymous, and available in both Spanish and English, this book helps children understand what to do when asked to keep a secret. Some secrets are fun and should be kept secret, author Johnsen explains. But if you feel hurt or confused when you're told something is a secret, you need to tell a grownup. Uses examples of secrets that will be familiar to children. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

There are better books on this topic
As a therapist who works with abused children, I have to say that I am sorry I bought this book and will not use it.

This book is about when children should keep secrets and when they should not. Part of its purpose is to help children protect themselves against sexual abuse, but this aim is not achieved. The author uses the "good touch, bad touch" concept, which experts such as Jan Hindman, author of "Just Before Dawn" strongly discourage. ("Just Before Dawn", by the way, is a great book on sexual abuse, but written for adults, more for therapists than laypeople.) It is not helpful to a child's normal development to label sexual touching as "bad touch". It is especially devastating to the sexual abuse victim who may have had a pleasurable bodily response to the abuse, which is not that uncommon. The "bad touch" concept will make this child feel guilty and bad and even more afraid to tell. It is much better to explain to the child that, except for the doctor, no adult is to touch the private parts of a child.

Another glaring mistake this book makes is that it advises a child to tell anyone who attempts to take their clothes off or touch them in an "uncomfortable way" to say, "No! I'll tell." Tellling a perpetrator "I'll tell" could end up getting the child killed. Of course, the child should tell, but not let the perpetrator know.

Two much better books on this subject for children are "My Body Is Private" and "Your Body Belongs to You". ... Read more

Book Description

Kids learn how to build the four Constructive Use of Time Assets: Creative Activities, Child Programs, Religious Community, and Time at Home. Stories, tips, and ideas promote healthy, constructive, relationship-strengthening interests and activities. Two-color illustrations, 5 1Ž8" x 7", ages 8-12 ... Read more

Book Description

Hip Hop Mob kangaroo characters, Runabout and Rhythm, first explain what a stranger is and the difference between a good and bad stranger.They proceed to show how strangers come in all different colors, shapes and sizes.Examples of situations with stangers are given and children are instructed on how to react. Although this books is excellent for children of all ages, it is geared for ages 2-8. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Some very dangerous advice...
Like many parents, I scrutinize books dealing with stranger safety because it is such a critically important issue. I was very disappointed with this book. Ms. Gross's overall determination to rhyme each passage makes it difficult to understand many sentences. But, most importantly, she also imparts some very dangerous advice to her young readers.

For example: "Good strangers are people your parents talk to. You can trust them to know just what to do." What an appallingly irresponsible and dangerous message for our young children, who are as helpless and incapable as we are of discerning between the harmless milk man and the pedophiliac tree surgeon! Mommy and Daddy talk to many strangers, and cannot know whether they are good or bad!

On the very next page, Ms. Gross suggests that we solve that problem by resorting to stereotype: "Community helpers can help even more. Police, firefighters, letter carriers or....doctors and dentists who round out the team, and teach you things always aren't what they seem." At first I couldn't even discern this poorly constructed passage. When finally I made sense of it, I was horrified to realize that Ms. Gross wants our children to believe that "community helpers" are unilaterally SAFE. Not only, her words imply, should they not be questioned but they are the ones providing the right answers ("...teach you things are always not what they seem."). SAFER, even, than the "good" strangers.

My children live in the same world where their peers are tragically molested every day by coaches, babysitters, neighbors, and many other "community helpers" (yes, even doctors and dentists!) and "safe strangers." My ambition is to impart clear and sensible rules to help keep them safe, something that must be accomplished without introducing prejudice and typecasting.

This book sends out very dangerous messages, both in terms of safety and social responsibility.

The BEST Stranger Safety Book I've seen!
This is an excellent book to read to any and all children. It covers taking candy, secret words between parent and child, running away if someone tries to grab you, and who is a stranger, what do they look like. It's a cute book at the same time. Read in a sing-song rhythm it is one of my children's favorite books.

Knowledge is power! Make your children aware, not scared and they have a better chance of being safe and sound.

an important reminder for all sensible parents
I happen to live in the country where crime rate is the lowest among the most developed countries; even then, the crime rate is rising steadily. There is hardly any book in print in this country that gives advice to parents on how to teach your children protect themselves against "strangers". This is the issue that seldom being addressed in this society. Unless a real crime has been committed in the neighborhood the parents are seldom encouraged to talk to their kids about stranger safety. I am glad that I am one step ahead of those parents because it is never too early to educate your kids on this subject. It is very difficult for a young child to understand the concept of "stranger" and its relation to "danger". But this book has done a good job. It really shows to the child that bad guys can look like anything and they can use any tricks just to get what they want. The book has really helped me to start a conversation about self protection and bad guy identifying with my child. Also, the illustrations are funny and the lines are in rhymes, it really holds a child's attention. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

All parents should read this to their children!
My 4 year old LOVES this book!

I had only talked briefly about fire safety until this book. It's written in a cute rhyming style, and it's easy to make it into a song or make it into a catchy tune while reading. We made it like a song. This really drew my child into the story, and even myself. I was so engrossed in it that I almost choked when I caught a glance of my child's wide-eyed horror look when we got to the climax part about the house catching on fire and needing to just get out leaving everything (toys) inside. I never stopped reading, and at the end, my child had tear filled eyes and just buried her head in my lap. We both cried, and then talked about the book and read it again. There is a cute summation poem at the end, that hits on the major point again that there's 'just one you' and doing what you need to do to keep yourself safe if there's a fire.

This book lead us to a wonderful discussion about fire safety. Stressing the person is more important than what's in the house, getting out safe, having a meeting place, etc. My child has a hard time thinking of leaving her toys behind if the house were to catch on fire. I think it's wonderful how the books stresses the importance of the individual..."because there's just one you."

We checked this out from our local library, and it's one we'll be buying to add to our own! Now, if this same writer/illustrator had one about strangers....

Great for Kids!
Kids will love this book while learning fire safety tips. For teachers who teach fire safety, this book is a must. Even upper elementary kids will love this book. Children will feel sorry for the dragon, but can even learn from his mistakes. ... Read more

Book Description

Hip Hop Mob kangaroo character, Runabout and his family face the dangers of fire while teaching children life-saving techniques.Children will learn to think fast and react without fear. Although this book is excellent for children of all ages, it is geared for ages 2-8 ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Every parent and young child should share this book.
This is a very good book to discuss many safty concerns without the lecture style that kids usually tune out. I feel much more secure about my children's safty since we went through this book togeher. One liked it so much that we went through it twice. The book is divided into seven chapters: At Home, At School and on the Way, At play, Out and About, First Aid, Just for Fun, and Pages for Parents. Each chapter has 12 to 15 sections which cover a specific issue such as "How to Dial 911". The section has one page that has an illustration and a one paragraph description of a situation. Read the paragraph and ask the child what they would do. The child then responds. This is a great way to get to know your child's maturity level, reasoning skills, and common sence. On the second page of the section there is a good discussion of the ideal response to the situation posed on the preceding page. My five year old had no trouble comprehending this and my 11 year old also seemed to be learning some things. AN IMPORTANT NOTE: My five year old didn't sleep well after we did the section titled "Prowler". She had just never thought of such a thing before and it seemed to unnerve her. Also, I liked the common sence response in the "Gun in the House" section. No hysterical political B.S., just leave the area and tell an adult. ... Read more

Book Description

Kids Keeping Kids Safe is an 80-page parent/child read together personal safety activity quide.The Safety Kids Club present the fun easy way to help teach children personal safety. Children gain safety smarts, self-confidence and have fun learning personal safety skills with safety Sam and the Safety Kids Club. It includes over 101 tips to keep kids safe. Kids Keeping Kids Safe is written on a child's level to help children learn personal safety in a fun non-fearful manner.Recommended for children ages 4-11. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Wonderful learning tool for Parents & Children
A fun and informative book for parents and children to share. Not only is it fun, well illustrated but a wonderful teaching tool that teaches parents and children important child safety techniques. In todays' world child safety is of great concern. Kids Keeping Kids Safe would be a great tool for schools and day care centers. It contains entertainment value as well as teaching important lessons to parents and children at the same time. Your child will love it as did mine! ... Read more

Book Description

Hip Hop Mob kangaroo characters, Runabout, Reader, Rhythm, and Rapper explore Runabout's house discovering possible dangers along the way.They show children how to make a happy home a safe place.Although this book is excellent for children of all ages, it is geared for ages 2-8. ... Read more