BellaOnline Forums Education Homeschooling Escape School Vs. The Safe Side

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art45885.asp

Escape School and The Safe Side are programs meant to teach children how to avoid abduction. Which is most appropriate for your child?

We have The Safe Side. My 4.5 year old loves it and has learned a lot. Super Chick is sooooooo funny and quirky. Not too scary which is what I didn't want...

Yeah, my 3 yr old got a lot out of the safe side. I made my 8 yr old watch it too.

I highly recommend Escape School too for a child over 5, it's great and really gives the kids a feeling of empowerment.

Meg

Do you think it would be approprite for a non-verbal child?

I'm wanting to find something for my son but I have no real way of knowing what he has gotten out of it. Or if he has learned anything.

What does ESCAPE SCHOOL tell children they are escaping from?? I'm trying to keep my kids as innocent as possible for as long as possible...

David knows someone might try to take him but all we've said is that some people out there don't have children and might want a child as special as he is. We have not told him that strangers sometimes really hurt children and will not be doing so for quite awhile.

Jan, I wish I could do that. My son has had a kidnapping threat against him, so I feel he needs to know.

oh my...how did it happen?

You can screen the video before you take them to a seminar.
As for keeping them innocent, well, that's a different issue. Also, it's not always strangers who could hurt a child, most of the time it's someone who has befriended the child or their parents.

ES mostly applies to older kids, I can't see you allowing your son to play alone. I don't let my kids play outside alone, and mine are much older than your son. It should be a must for any child who goes to school.

Anyhow, it teaches the kids what to do if they are pulled into someone's car, how to run away from someone trying to abduct them, if they are taken to a hosue how to get attention of the police and others, how to clog a toilet in order to get the abductor to be busy so they can escape, etc.

Samten - I dont think being non-verbal will have an effect on how he takes to the movie, but I think your son would be a bit too young yet. You certainly could try and even introduce the concepts now.

dont know - a person you dont know
kinda know - someone you kind of know
safe side adult - an adult they can trust (they need 3)
safe space - basically personal space no don't or kinda know needs to be in.

HTH,
meg