The Safe Side- Stranger Safety for the Family
It was a day most Mother's don't want to admit, but I feel it's necessary to implement the importance of Stranger Safety with our children. I've gone over my "Shower Rules" with my 5 and 6 year old for 2 years now.
If Mommy's is in the shower:
We don't answer the door.
We don't answer the phone.
We don't go outside.
We don't open the door for ANYONE!
I felt confident in knowing I've gone over this a gazillion times and they would, indeed, listen and take appropriate precautions should the need arise, but this day, this particular day, .................. they didn't.
I was in the shower when all of a sudden Abby, my 5 year old, runs into the bathroom holding a package from FedEx. In shock I yelled, "Where did you get that?!" Realizing what she had done she softly says, "A man rang the doorbell and left it on the front porch."
My heart sank just thinking what could have happened. How else can I show these children the importance of Stranger Safety? I set out on a quest to find a book, a DVD, something to help me teach them and include in my Health & Safety Expo, here at Momma Findings. I didn't have to look far because my son was explaining to me how this DVD he saw on TV can help us teach Abby not to open the door to strangers.
Perfect for ages 5-8, this DVD shows both children and parents the "in's and out's" of Stranger Safety. We had the opportunity to view this DVD and immediately my daughter was glued to the TV. Not only is it educational, but funny! That's a big plus in my book because I needed the children to pay close attention and focus. Humor played a big part in them WANTING to know more about "Kinda Know's" and "Don't Know's".
As a parent, I'd do anything to keep my children safe. There were so many ideas on how to do that, some I didn't think to talk to my children about. I was most impressed with the fact that they touched on the "Kinda Know". A "Kinda Know" is someone you...... Kinda Know. As much as I tried explaining to my kids the dangers of people we kinda know BEFORE watching this movie, they just didn't get it.
There are so many opportunities to pause the movie to talk about what you've learned or discuss something you've seen. My son became a little frightened when he saw how easy it is for an adult to fight and pick up a child. We paused it and talked about how it CAN be scary. No matter how tough you think you are adults are just bigger and stronger. As heart breaking as I was at that moment, I felt confident that my children would remember that scene in the future. It was an amazing illustration!
All in all, Stranger Safety has been an amazing experience. Both myself and my children learned ways we can be safe together, such as naming 3 adults we can trust when Mommy or Daddy can't be around. As we thought of names, my kids started blurting out people I'd NEVER let pick them up from school, not because they are dangerous, but because they haven't earned my trust to handle such precious cargo. We discussed why we wouldn't pick them as our Safeside Adult and proceeded to choose and remember the ones we can trust. If it wasn't for that segment, my children would trust and go with anyone who says, "Your Mom sent me to pick you up."
What I didn't expect was how much I would want to show it to other people! We watched it with some of the neighborhood kids we invited over and I plan to do it again with preschoolers and their Moms that I'm close to. The really cool part is you can download free Family and/or School guides right on their website!
I have to say though, one of my favorite addition to the DVD is the Safe Side Badges! Every time a child is caught being safe on the Safety DVD they earn a green Safe Side badge. My children were ecstatic, after watching and discussing the DVD, that they earned their OWN badge. The next day, early in the morning, I caught my daughter talking to her stuffed animals about Stranger Safety naming their Safe Side adults to be Mommy, Daddy, and herself. She then gave all of her "kids" Safe Side Badges.
The Safe Side is dedicated to making kids safer. In addition to publishing programs for kids and parents, the Company donates 10% of gross proceeds from distribution to The National Center For Missing & Exploited Children.
Buy It
To learn more about the Safe Side or to purchase your own copy of Stranger Safety, head over to their online shop. Individual DVD's retail for 12.99 and come with a small set of Safe Side badges!
Win It!
I'm ecstatic beyond measure to offer THREE readers a Stranger Safety DVD. All you have to do to enter this giveaway is head over to the Safe Side online shop and look through all their amazing products aimed at keeping us safe. Come back here and tell me which products, other than Stranger Safety, you think you'd like to try and why.
Extra Entries
1.) I'm giving you guys 4 extra entries if you guys help me spread the word about Stranger Safety. It is SO important to keep children safe! Blog about this giveaway by linking back to this post AND the Safe Side Website.
2.) Feel free to Digg, Stumble, Kirtsy, or Tweet this post and you'll earn 2 extra entries.
3.) Support the other places I blog by leaving a comment there and coming back here to tell me which post you commented on. You can find me at My Sippy Cup Runneth Over, The Label Daddy Blog, and the Deep South Moms Blog.
4.) Add any of my sites to your blog roll. One entry for EACH blog you've added.
5.) Become an email subscriber
6.) Last, but certainly not least tell me a story of your own. Did you have a frightening experience with your children and strangers?
Contest starts today Feb. 5th-14th Midnight Central Time and open to US residents only. You don't have to be a blogger to enter, but please leave a valid email address for contact purposes.
*Remember to leave EACH entry in separate comments*
The DNA Legacy Kit is a good idea.
the internet safety dvd looks like it would be very helpful
blog entry 1
http://sweeps4bloggers.blogspot.com/2009/02/mommafindings-safety-dvd-giveaway-21409.html
blog entry 2
http://sweeps4bloggers.blogspot.com/2009/02/mommafindings-safety-dvd-giveaway-21409.html
blog entry 3
http://sweeps4bloggers.blogspot.com/2009/02/mommafindings-safety-dvd-giveaway-21409.html
blog entry 4
http://sweeps4bloggers.blogspot.com/2009/02/mommafindings-safety-dvd-giveaway-21409.html
tweet 1
http://twitter.com/valerie2350/status/1180333896
tweet 2
http://twitter.com/valerie2350/status/1180333896
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http://sweeps4bloggers.blogspot.com/
I think the home safety kit is a great idea. Thanks for the chance.
sweetascandy579 at yahoo dot com
I am a subscriber.
sweetascandy579 at yahoo dot com
the home safety kit looks nice.
mckenziesmother@hotmail.com
There are so many great items how do you pick just one. I would like the Ultimate Home Safety Collection
but it I only had to pick one, I would get the Safe Side Child ID Kit.
member (dot) thao (at) gmail.com
I subscribe
member (dot) thao (at) gmail.com
Your button is here
http://wondertwinadventures.blogspot.com
member (dot) thao (at) gmail.com
I think the Cool Tunes CD will be very helpful to reinforce the message about being safe around strangers in a fun, easy to understand way.
I've been debating about getting something like this for awhile now. I'd love to win for my kids to watch and learn.
The Internet Safety Family Activity Pack for the grandchildren it would be a great tool
i'd try the home safety kit
internet safety dvd
subscriber
my kids did the same thing- we all were in the house but I was in the laundry room and the dishwasher and tv were going and my son walked up here you go- fedex here does not knock and my son told me he said thru the window its ok open the door- boy I was angry and called fedex and then talked to the kids and have a note on my door and also keep front door closed- even if we need a beeze in the house
I think the Cool Tunes would be great for my daughter.
galeogirl at comcast dot net
The Safe Side Whistle because it is so loud. That's good!
tweeted by lisagee123
safety first dvd giveaway http://tinyurl.com/cd2979 less than 5 seconds ago from web
I remember back in the day....
before there was stranger danger from parents.
I was a preteen and I remember a carload of guys wanted me to get in and ride with them.
I ran as fast as I could away all the way back home.
Good thing for more info nowadays to help kids.
Subscriber in rss feed @ yahoo account lisalcolorado2007
I think I'd get the Safe Side Whistle for my grandchildre. I thinkmaking as much noise as possible would get anyone attempting to attack or snatch them drope them and run.
dove42(at)comcast(net)
When I was a young mother (a long time ago) I lived very close to a middle school and noticed that several cars with older men (college agde) were often waiting around when school let out. I talked to a few of my friends who had middle school age children. My house was a "safe" house. If any of their girls were harrassed or scared then they just walked up to my house and I would let them in and they would stay there til mom or dad could come pick them up.
I am a subscriber
I think the Internet Safety DVD looks useful because ours is already using the internet and getting all kinds of viruses, so clearly, he is quite gullible. I'd like to educate him to stop him from getting into more serious trouble on the internet.
mitanari[at]yahoo[dot]com
I'd like to try the The Safe Side Child ID Kit because it would be good to have "just in case".
I tweeted, http://twitter.com/christygold/status/1182674243
I added you to my blog roll, http://iluvsurprizes.blogspot.com/
I subscribed via email.
Internet safety is so important.
I'd try the home safety kit. Thank you.
cascat@sbcglobal.net
I like the internet safety guide as my children get older this could really help out
shopannies@yahoo.com
#1 I blogged about teh giveaway http://shopannies.blogspot.com/2009/02/giveaway-stranger-safety-dvd.html
shopannies@Yahoo.com
#2
I blogged about teh giveaway http://shopannies.blogspot.com/2009/02/giveaway-stranger-safety-dvd.html
shopannies@Yahoo.com
#3
I blogged about teh giveaway http://shopannies.blogspot.com/2009/02/giveaway-stranger-safety-dvd.html
shopannies@Yahoo.com
#4 I blogged about teh giveaway http://shopannies.blogspot.com/2009/02/giveaway-stranger-safety-dvd.html
shopannies@Yahoo.com
#5 I blogged about teh giveaway http://shopannies.blogspot.com/2009/02/giveaway-stranger-safety-dvd.html
shopannies@Yahoo.com
#1 twittered about the giveaway http://twitter.com/shopannies/status/1183599012
shopannies@Yahoo.com
#2
twittered about the giveaway http://twitter.com/shopannies/status/1183599012
shopannies@yahoo.com
email subscriber
shopannies@yahoo.com
I would like to try the Internet Safety Kit-it would be great for my grandchildren. Thank you!
The Ultimate Home Safety Collection has everything I would want to try. I'm a safety freak and I want to cover every aspect of safety for my child. Thank you!
I like the internet safety DVD.
couponcrazymom00 at gmail dot com
Definitely the internet safety dvd!
I liked the safe side child ID kit as well.
Internet Safety DVD, because my son is wanting to go on the internet more and more and it just scares me!
The Internet Safety DVD would come in handy. My 11 year old knows how to get around, and I want to keep him safe.
I have your button.
Without a doubt, the internet safety. It's just too easy to get in trouble online these days.
ariella at blight dot com
Internet safety DVD definitely - though hopefully I won't need that for a while with only a 21 mo. old.
I like the The Safe Side Child ID Kit.
treflea4 at gmail dot com
I'm an email suscriber.
treflea4 at gmail dot com
I like the Internet Safety DVD
rosan4@comcast.net
I left a comment at My Sippy Cup on your sons 2nd birthday "Love in Patience"
rosans4@comcast.net
I really like the home safety kit.
legab67156[at]gmail.com
I would like the The Safe Side Whistle!
Carla
cpullum(at)yahoo(dot)com
At Label Daddy I left a comment on Turn on the Fan article
rosans4@comcast.net
I left a comment on Deep South Husbnand Do's and Don'ts
rosans4@comcast.net
I'm an e-mail subscriber
rosans4@comcast.net
I had an experience as a child. I was ill and had to go home from school early. A white rusty station wagon pulled up next to me This was years ago. He asked me to come over and I thought he needed directions. I went up to the car and he asked if I would do something sexual. I backed away and he took off. Iwas lucky It's been decades and if I had to identify him in a lineup I could. I've never forgotten that face. rosans4@comcast.net
I would like to try the home safety kit. You can never know too much or try too hard to keep your child safe.
I subscribed.
jenbutterfly12@yahoo.com
I was almost abducted as a child as was my sister, on two seperate occasions. Because of this and all the sick monsters in this world, I am extremely protective of my children. I feel like you can never be too safe, period!!
jenbutterfly12@yahoo.com
I'd like to try the Internet Safety DVD.
I'd like the Child ID kit. Such a great product!
The home safety kit looks great! Thanks!
katie1644@aol.com
I like both the whistle and the dna legacy kit. I would love to win this video for my 3 kids. We borrowed it from a friend about a year ago but my 2 littlest ones are older now and I'd like them to see it.!! Thanks !!!
Michelle
Mchlls22@aol.com
I like the idea of the Safe Side Whistle- it would give me some piece of mind when my son is outside by himself.
colesammom at gmail dot com
The Internet Safety family pack would be great for my son's class!
The Safe Side Child ID Kit is a must.
Tammie
tammiet1 at verizon dot net
i think my kiddos would really like the cool tunes cd with safety tips...what a fun way to learn safety:) thanks!
christinbanda@yahoo.com
The The Safe Side Mouse Pad would be a nice little reminder for the kids
I would like to try the Internet Safety DVD. Children use the internet. There are a lot of predators who use the internet to take advantage of children. I would like to give my child some information om internet safety. garrettsambo@aol.com
Although it's not something you'd ever want to need, I think the DNA Legacy Kit is a good idea.
Internet Safety Family Activity Pack would be awesome tool for my family!
zestywonderland@gmail.com
I subscribed.
i like the Internet Safety Family Kit
I've been wanting this DVD for a while now. I would also like the Home Safety Kit.
jlilleysprint@earthlink.net
I'd like to get the NetSmartz CD/DVD for my daughter. She's just exploring the web and I'd love to show her the dangers. Thanks!
Twittered: http://twitter.com/coriwestphal/status/1211515763
Entry 1
Twittered: http://twitter.com/coriwestphal/status/1211515763
Entry 2
I'm a subscriber.
I HEART THE home safety kit :)
I would like to try the DNA Legacy Kit because it sounds very useful.
I subscribed by email.