Safe Kids, Smart Parents: What Parents Need to Know to Keep Their Children Safe

Family psychologist Bailey affirms that the ultimate goal of abduction and exploitation awareness is not to induce paranoia, but to make children feel loved, and for parents to trust that their kids are making safe choices. However, parents teaching Bailey's hypervigilant approach, even in a caring, measured manner, are still likely to create more fear than comfort. Beginning with advice for adults, and following with core information grouped based on the child's age (from toddlers to teens), the book provides advice and lessons that push a three-pronged approach of "safety, awareness, and communication." Bailey's safety tips take a traditional approach, maintaining that even though abduction by strangers is statistically rare, one child lost is too many. Writing with her sister Elizabeth, a registered nurse, Bailey also addresses abduction by parents in divorce and visitation situations. According to Bailey, kids should know their environment well enough to determine when something is not right, formulate "safety equations" to evaluate situations, and make a list of trustworthy adults as part of a "Safe Kid Kit," along with an overall safety agreement children and parents complete together. Bailey's communication strategy suggests a proactive approach and will help parents build the kind of trust that will encourage kids to speak up. Agent: Nancy Seltzer, Nancy Seltzer and Associates Public Relations. (July)