02 May 10 Ways to Keep Kids Safe – Beyond April and Child Abuse Prevention Month

I have to admit that I love a list. A concise list is easy to digest and can be easy to remember. 

At the Kosair for Kids Face It Movement, we want to make understanding child abuse prevention easy, attainable, and maybe even enjoyable. While child maltreatment is tragic and is entirely preventable, there are so many actions we can take that can reduce parent and caregiver stress, increase their resilience, and create real opportunities to keep kids safe. 

Below are 10 actions you can take to help keep kids safe even if you aren’t a parent.

1. Initiate an act of kindness when you’re at the store – like allowing a parent with a squirming toddler to walk ahead of you in the check out line; complimenting a parent’s calm demeanor when their child is having a meltdown in the store; or helping to return a parent’s cart to the corral. 
2. Connect with parents and caregivers – Most of us have neighbors, colleagues, classmates, or fellow churchgoers. Social connection builds resilience, even when it feels awkward or hard. People (especially parents!) want to be seen and understood. Be the one to strike up a conversation or simply ask how folks are doing. If you are a parent, get yourself connected.
3. Talk openly about protecting kids – Normalize discussions in social settings about how we respond to our kids behavior calmly (even when you’re not feeling calm), or safely storing medication, or the risks that come with unmonitored access to the internet, or who to trust alone with a child. There is no handbook and not all parents have the time to learn about potential harms. Make people aware that child abuse happens in all types of families and environments and it is our job as adults to keep them safe. 
4. Talk openly about parenting stress – Empathize about the stress of parenting. Hold your judgment and let parents or caregivers share their feelings of overwhelm or frustration. Don’t try to fix it, just listen. Shame starts to disappear when we talk about things out in the open. 
5. Encourage everyone to speak up against incidents or messages that normalize harm to children, including physical, sexual, and emotional harm, or messages that normalize referring to children as property. We all sometimes say things out of frustration or judgment, but if you hear it, consider approaching with curiosity (“I heard you say…is that what you meant?”).
6. Show care – If you know a parent or caregiver is having a rough day, week, or month, ask if you can support them with a homemade meal (or gift card), an hour kid-free break, running errands for them, or support with other stressors that can culminate into an unsafe situation. 
7. Watch your words (and your facial expressions) – If you see child behavior out in public that gives you pause or frustration and elicits a response like eye rolls or making a face at the parent: PAUSE. Take a breath and put yourselves in their shoes. Most parents feel shame and overwhelm when their child is acting up in public, they don’t need anyone else’s judgment on top of it. If you’re going to offer anything, keep it neutral or helpful.
8. Share resources or volunteer – The Face It Movement provides digital and print materials that you can share on social media, at your next book club meeting, or church potluck. We’ll even ship them to your door. Our partners are often seeking volunteers, too. 
9. Be a safe adult – Let your parent and caregiver friends know that you’re willing to step up and help if they need it. Be kind to kids out in public, even when they are loud or disruptive or causing a scene – they are learning how to be part of a community. Learn the signs of abuse and understand your duty as a mandated reporter. 
10. Curiously attend to your own emotions – Without judgment, look within to understand why you may be angry, upset, frustrated, or disengaged with those around you. We all show up in different ways every day, and on those really bad days (and good days!) and what we say or do can have a lasting effect on a child or adult.

What other ways can you prevent child abuse in your community? Reach out and let us know.