Boy Scouts Integrity Shaken By Secrets - 5 Tips For Parents To Protect Kids From Sex Abuse

Child Safety Expert and Kidpower founder, Irene van der Zande, says Boy Scouts of America must stop fighting the release of its files on thousands of suspected abuse cases to show integrity and regain trust as a safe organization for children. October 24, 2012

Child Safety Expert and Kidpower founder, Irene van der Zande, says Boy Scouts of America must stop fighting the release of its files on thousands of suspected abuse cases to show integrity and regain trust as a safe organization for children...Understand that child molesters often use charm, kindness, and generosity to build trust.
2. Be sure you know what your kids are doing when you are not with them.
3. Be prepared to speak up if anyone’s behavior makes you uncomfortable and to put the safety of your kids ahead of embarrassing or upsetting anyone.
4. Teach kids not to keep problems, gifts, touch, or favors a secret.
5. Teach kids how to set boundaries on unwanted touch or unsafe behavior and how to be persistent in getting adult help.”

“If you have a child involved in scouting, or any other youth program, make sure you stay aware and involved,” writes van der Zande. “Make sure you teach kids and frequently practice self-protection skills such as setting and respecting boundaries; not keeping secrets; being persistent to get help with problems; and advocating for themselves and others when they have concerns.”

About Author Irene van der Zande and Kidpower.org

Irene van der Zande has been featured as a child safety expert by USA Today, CNN, and The Wall Street Journal, is a sought-after consultant to schools and other organizations, and the primary author for Kidpower’s books and personal safety training curriculum. Comprehensive guide to child protection - by Irene van der Zande">The Kidpower Book For Caring Adults, a comprehensive guide for adults interested in child protection and advocacy; and the Kidpower Safety Comic Series, which many families and schools use together in their child abuse prevention and other violence prevention training programs. She is also the founder of Kidpower (http://www.kidpower.org), whose programs are highly recommended by experts worldwide for taking a positive, skills-based approach to preventing abuse, kidnapping, bullying and other violence. Instead of using fear to teach young people about danger, the Kidpower Method™ makes it fun to learn to be safe, building habits that increase the skills and confidence of kids, parents, teachers and other caring adults that can last a lifetime.

Kidpower has served more than 2 million people of all ages and abilities, since its founding as a nonprofit organization in 1989, offering workshops through more than 20 centers and offices across the US and around the world, classroom curriculum for K-12 and the Kidpower.org library of free and low-cost articles, podcasts, videos, blog posts and publications that are used by hundreds of thousands of people every year. Visit http://www.kidpower.org for more information about “people safety” skills for children, teens and adults and training opportunities in your area.

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