Guest Author - Meg Grooms

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

Escape School is exactly what is sounds like, a seminar for children that teaches them how to escape in the event they are abducted. Escape School is a free program sponsored by Dignity Memorial, a chain of funeral homes, and is most appropriate for children ages 5 and older. The program involves hands-on training as well as a video presentation. Escape School must be presented by a person certified to present the seminar, presenters are available all over the United States. If there is not a certified presenter in your area the accompanying video is available for free through Dignity Memorial and most local libraries.

Escape School seminars are usually held at funeral homes, which may concern some parents, however the children enter through a back entrance and are always separated from the funeral home business, and classes are usually scheduled only when there are no services being held. Escape School seminars can be held in other places when you arrange one through a certified presenter.

Escape School is a fantastic presentation. The techniques demonstrated are absolutely brilliant and most are things I would have never thought of. We attended the seminar several years ago but to this day my children remember the techniques and rules taught at the seminar. I recommend attending the seminar and/or watching the video annually.

Escape School is online at http://www.escapeschool.com

For children who aren't quite ready for Escape School I recommend The Safe Side. The Safe Side is a video program geared toward younger children, most appropriate for children aged 3 through 8. The Safe Side is a fast-paced program that keeps the child's attention through the use of super heroes and humor. The Safe Side does less to instruct the child in how to fight back and more in how to avoid dangerous situations. The Safe Side does an excellent job of explaining how someone doesn't have to be a stranger to hurt you.

The lessons in The Safe Side are gentle, even for the youngest of viewers. The Safe Side teaches a child about personal space, what to do in uncomfortable situations and why children need supervision in addition to other general safety tips. The Safe Side is available at major retailers for around $14 in DVD format, and at most libraries. I recommend watching The Safe Side every 3 months or so with a younger child, every six to twelve months with an older child. I also recommend reviewing the terms learned in the program daily.