Child abuse occurs at all socioeconomic levels, across all ethnic and cultural lines, within all religions, and at all levels of education. However, by making sure that we are educated and informed on this issue, we can prevent children from enduring this unnecessary and unthinkable abuse.
Knowing that 95 percent of sexual abuse is preventable through education and awareness, Lauren’s Kids developed the Safer, Smarter Kids curriculum. Lauren Book, M.S. Ed., career educators, and a developmental psychologist created the curriculum to not only educate children, but also teachers and parents. The goal being: Engaging Teachers, Empowering Children, Educating Parents
The curriculum focuses on teaching children that they have the ability to protect themselves. The activities of this curriculum are designed to help you meet existing educational requirements in the areas of social studies, theatre, visual art, health education, and reading/language arts, while imparting critical safety information.
Safer, Smarter Kids includes five to eight, 30-minute age-appropriate lessons regarding personal safety and how to ask for help when a situation makes you uncomfortable. The children then have the opportunity to practice these concepts through in-class activities.
By empowering children, educating parents, and engaging with teachers, we all work together to help prevent children from going through tragic situations. The education program uses developmentally appropriate information to arm children with the tools and language they need to better protect themselves from abuse. Each grade level’s theme focuses on developing skills for staying safe as it relates to the expansion of a child’s world and aligns to social studies frameworks.
To learn more about implementing the Lauren’s Kids Safer, Smarter Schools curriculum in your school, visit: https://safersmarterschools.org/professional-development/
