Parents as Teachers of Safety

Parents as Teachers of Safety is a personal safety curriculum that teaches children self-protection and assertiveness skills to reduce their vulnerability to harm and abuse, while also educating their parents on safety rules to help keep children free from dangerous situations.

The program is free of charge due to funding provided by the Children's Trust.

• The program meets twice a week for 6 weeks, at the child's school/center for one hour in the evening at the close of the day (e.g., Mon/Wed 6 -7 p.m.)
• Snacks and beverages are provided to all participants at each session.
• A special graduation ceremony is held at the end and all children receive diplomas. 

The Parents as Teachers of Safety curriculum teaches children ways to protect themselves and reduce their vulnerability to harm and abuse.  Parents learn safety rules to help keep children from dangerous situations.  The curriculum covers topics ranging from car, traffic and gun safety to personal safety and touching rules. Children are taught via songs, activities and videos, while parents are presented information and given handouts to help further their learning at home with their children.

The Curriculum:

Lesson 1 Introduction of the program: body information, and body safety.

Lesson 2 Learning Water and Poison Safety: Following safety rules about being around water and potential poison is very important for children.

Lesson 3 Learning Fire and Gun Safety: Following safety rules about fire and Never Play With Guns.

Lesson 4 Learning Car Safety:Always wearing a seatbelt helps keep people safe in a car. Learning Traffic Safety:Children should cross the street safely by looking in all directions first and holding hands. Learning safety rules about being home alone;children need to know how to stay safe when they are lost.

Lesson 5 The Always Ask First Rule: Getting Permission Before Going with Someone.The Always Ask First Rule: Getting Permission Before Accepting Gifts.

Lesson 6 Getting and Giving Safe Touches: Okay touches help people feel cared for and loved. They are good for your body.Dealing with Unsafe Touches: Children can develop skills to help them resist or avoid not okay touches.

Lesson 7 Learning the Touching Rule:The Touching Rule is: A bigger person should not touch your private body parts, except to keep you clean and healthy.

Lesson 8 Saying No to Unwanted Touches: Children (and adults) have the right to say how and by whom they are touched. Children can develop skills and vocabulary to help them avoid unwanted touches

Lesson 9 Learning the Safety Steps (Booster Lesson): The Safety Steps are (1) Say words that mean "No"; (2) Get away; and (3) Tell a grown-up.

Lesson 10 Using The Touching Rule: Children should use the Safety Steps if someone breaks the Touching Rule. Joey Learns the Touching Rule (video used): Children should not keep secrets about touching. It's never the child's fault.

Lesson 11 Review and practice of all skills

Lesson 12 Graduation: Celebration, Party, Certificates.

Through funding by the Children's Trust of Miami-Dade County, Florida International University is able to offer the Parents as Teachers of Safety program to eligible families in Miami-Dade County.  

Staff

Program Director:

Maureen Kenny, Ph.D.

(305) 348-3506

Program Coordinator:

Melissa Sosa, M.S.

(305) 348 3232

Research Coordinator:

Yesenia Arocha, J.D

Maria Fernanda Santacruz, B.A

Recruiter:

Veronica Salazar

(305) 728 9256

 Counselors:

Maylin Batista, M.S

Josefina Costa, M.Ed.  

 Jonelle Dougery, M.S.

Maria Martinez, Ph.D

Laura Serrano, M.S

Jannet Zayas, M.S.

Photos from Parents as Teachers of Safety Groups

Group Leader, Josefina Costa educates group at Little Cruisers about staying safe.

Program Director, Dr. Maureen Kenny distributes a completion certificate to a young child.

Final night celebration

Preschools that have already participated in the Parents as Teachers of Safety Program:

ABIG Child's Place

Bright Futures

Kinder Care Learning Center

Learn and Play Preschool and Day Care

Little Cruisers

Little Promises Day Care

Montessori Learing Center

O'Farril Learning Center

Rainbow Child Day Care

The Family Center

The Jewish Community Center

Praise from Parents about Parents as Teachers of Safety:

"Estoy muy contenta de haber participado en este curso tan bueno. ¡ Ojala que se repita!"

~Madre de una niña de 3 años~

"I gained the tools and knowledge to educate my children and keep them safer. I feel that this program provided me with the knowledge and the tools needed to educate my children about keeping safe. I am also more aware of our surroundings and I feel my children are safer for having participated."

~Mother of a 4 year old boy~

"El programa me enseño como hablar del tema del abuso sexual con mi hijo sin temor o ansiedad."

~Madre de un niño de 4 años~

"As parents, we learn exactly what our kids are being taught. This makes it so much easier to answer my children’s questions!"

~ Mother of 5 year old boy~

"Sexual abuse is very tough topic for most parents. This class helped us find feel more at ease and provided us with age-appropriate ways to discuss difficult topics with our daughter."

~Mother of a 4 year old girl~

"Todas las lecciones fueron muy interesantes. Nos ayudaron e informaron a nuestros niños a saber como reaccionar en situaciones peligrosas."

~Padre de una niña de 3 años y de un niño de 5 años~

"La niña ha asimilado mas rápido todo lo que se le explica. Este programa nos han ayudado mucho a los padres."

~Madre de una niña de 3 años~

Feedback from Parents

" 81.3 % of parents in the program stated that the group sessions helped a great deal in discussing safety issues with their children.

" 73.6 % of parents in the program stated that the group sessions helped them to talk about safety issues in their home

" 62.5 % of parents in the program stated that the group sessions increased their confidence in their ability to parent their children.

" 76.1 % of parents in the program stated that the group sessions helped them increase their knowledge about sexual abuse of children

" 64.1 % of parents in the program stated that the group sessions helped them to talk about sexual abuse with their children

" 78.3 % of parents in the program stated that the group sessions helped them to talk about okay and not okay touches

To participate in the Parents as Teachers of Safety program, or if you would like your child or child's preschool to participate, please contact, Melissa Sosa at (305) 348 3232

http://www.thechildrenstrust.org/

Parents as Teachers of Safety is funded by The Children’s Trust. The trust is a dedicated source of revenue established by voter referendum to improve the lives of children and families in Miami-Dade County