Child Safety Expert’s New Children’s Book Teaches Safe Choices, Danger Avoidance

I Can Play It Safe (Free Spirit Publishing, $14.95) written by Alison Feigh, the child safety expert at the Jacob Wetterling Foundation, offers parents the advice and reassurance they are looking for. “It’s important to teach our kids about personal safety without scaring them or making them think that danger lurks around every corner,” says Feigh. “This book allows parents to take a child’s natural ability for imaginative play and turn it into a nonthreatening educational moment.”

Minneapolis, MN (Vocus/PRWEB ) April 30, 2008 -- It’s hard for parents to ignore the headline-grabbing news about child abductions and abuse. They want to keep their kids out of harm’s way, and they want effective, non-threatening ways to educate their children about personal safety.

I Can Play It Safe

It’s important to teach our kids about personal safety without scaring them or making them think that danger lurks around every corner

This book allows parents to take a child’s natural ability for imaginative play and turn it into a nonthreatening educational moment.

It’s important to teach our kids about personal safety without scaring them or making them think that danger lurks around every corner

This book allows parents to take a child’s natural ability for imaginative play and turn it into a nonthreatening educational moment.

Adults need to let children know they are special and deserve to be safe

When children receive love and attention from trusted adults, they are less likely to respond to attention from those who might hurt them. They need to be connected to healthy adults in addition to their immediate families.

I Can Play It Safe (Free Spirit Publishing, $14.95) written by Alison Feigh, the child safety expert at the Jacob Wetterling Foundation, offers parents the advice and reassurance they are looking for. “It’s important to teach our kids about personal safety without scaring them or making them think that danger lurks around every corner,” says Feigh. “This book allows parents to take a child’s natural ability for imaginative play and turn it into a nonthreatening educational moment.”

With bright illustrations and real-life situations, I Can Play It Safe helps kids understand how to make good safety choices. Each of the seven simple kid-friendly tools presented empowers kids to make good decisions without adding to their fears. Kids will learn to always check in with a caregiver for permission to go anywhere with anyone. They will be encouraged to listen to and respond to their gut instincts—that “uh-oh” feeling that something is wrong—and leave a situation to get help. By learning the difference between a secret and a surprise, kids will know they have the right to say “no” to any adult who is trying to manipulate them.

I Can Play It Safe includes a section for parents and caregivers offering tips to reinforce the strategies in the book. Adults will be encouraged to use the book as a springboard to play “What if…” games with children: What if a neighbor asks you to help with a project at her house? What if we get separated in the shopping mall? What if an older child at the bus stop asks you to keep a secret? By using a calm and reassuring tone to talk about safety in everyday situations, parents and caregivers can help children practice making good personal safety choices.

Throughout, the book underscores the important role parents and caregivers play in keeping kids safe. “Adults need to let children know they are special and deserve to be safe,” says Feigh. “When children receive love and attention from trusted adults, they are less likely to respond to attention from those who might hurt them. They need to be connected to healthy adults in addition to their immediate families.”

When caring adults teach kids safety skills in a way that’s fun and nonthreatening, they are helping to create a world where all kids can play it safe.

I Can Play It Safe
by Alison Feigh, illustrated by Laura Logan
ISBN 978-1-57542-285-5
$14.95
Hardcover
32 pp.
full-color illust.
10" x 7½"
for ages 4–8, parents, teachers, counselors

About the Author
Alison Feigh is the child safety specialist at the Jacob Wetterling Foundation. Influenced by the abduction of classmate Jacob Wetterling, she became a spokesperson on issues of justice at a very young age. As an adult, Alison has been tackling the problem of missing and exploited children for over a decade.

She is a sought-after national expert on child safety appearing on Fox National News, CNN’s NewsNight, and many others.

Alison lives in St. Paul, Minnesota.

A portion of all proceeds will be donated by the author to the Jacob Wetterling Foundation, an organization dedicated to educating adults and communities to prevent the exploitation of children.

Visit www.JWF.org for more information.

About Free Spirit Publishing (www.freespirit.com)
Meeting kids’ social & emotional needs since 1983
Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Free Spirit is the leading publisher of learning tools that support young people’s social and emotional health. Free Spirit’s mission is to help children and teens think for themselves, succeed in life, and make a difference in the world.

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books play jacob wetterling alison wetterling jacob wetterling foundation childrens book safe child safety foundation

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