Overview of the Teaching Safety Program

The job of ensuring children’s safety is a challenging undertaking. The prevention of child sexual abuse requires more than adult awareness, education, and training about the nature and scope of the problem. We must also give our children the tools they need to overcome the advances of someone who intends to do them harm. KidSmartz and NetSmartzKids are tools designed to assist parents and teachers in this important task. These programs are a vehicle through which parents, teachers, catechists, and youth ministers give children and young people the tools they need to protect themselves from those who might harm them. KidSmartz SCOPE & SEQUENCE                                                                      GRADES K-2                                GRADES 3-5
 
OBJECTIVES GRADES K-2
LESSON 1
After completing this lesson students will be able to:
■ Explain what it means to be safe.
■ Recognize the KidSmartz safety rules.

LESSON 2
After completing this lesson students will be able to:
 ■ Explain the importance of checking first with an adult.
■ Give examples of when they should check first.
■ Express how their parent or guardian would feel if they did not check first.

LESSON 3
After completing this lesson, students will be able to:
 ■ Demonstrate the meaning of the phrase “strength in numbers.”
■ Explain why they are safer with a friend.
 ■ Give examples of when they should take a friend.

LESSON 4
After completing this lesson, students will be able to:
■ Explain why they have a right to stand up for themselves.
■ Identify situations in which it is acceptable to tell an adult “no.”
■ Demonstrate how to say “no” with authority.

LESSON 5
After completing this lesson, students will be able to:
■ Describe situations they should report to an adult.
■ Identify the qualities of a trusted adult.
■ Dial 911 in an emergency.

Note: Children are more likely to be victimized or abducted by someone they know, rather than a stranger. This fact can be confusing and scary for children. This KidSmartz lesson focuses on the qualities that make an adult trustworthy, rather than simply naming types of trusted adults, such as parents, guardians, police officers and teachers.

LESSON 6
After completing this lesson, students will be able to:
■ Explain the KidSmartz rules in their own words.
■ Give examples of how to be safer.

OBJECTIVES GRADES 3-5
LESSON 1
After completing this lesson students will be able to:
■ Explain what it means to be safe.
■ Recognize the KidSmartz safety rules.

LESSON 2
After completing this lesson students will be able to:
■ Explain why it is important to check first.
■ Recognize the common tricks used in abductions.
■ Identify negative consequences of not checking first.

LESSON 3
After completing this lesson students will be able to:
■ Explain why they are safer with a friend.
■ Give examples of when they should take a friend.
■ Explain the meaning of the phrase “strength in numbers.”

LESSON 4
After completing this lesson students will be able to:
■ Identify situations in which it is acceptable to tell an adult “no.”
■ Practice saying “no” with authority.
■ Recognize that they have a right to protect themselves.

LESSON 5
After completing this lesson students will be able to:
■ Define the word “trust.”
■ Identify the qualities of a trusted adult.
■ Identify three of their trusted adults.

LESSON 6
After completing this lesson students will be able to:
■ Explain the KidSmartz rules in their own words.
■ Give examples of how to be safer.

All KidSmartz lessons revolve around these FOUR RULES:
I will always CHECK FIRST with my parent, guardian or other trusted adult before going anywhere, helping anyone, accepting anything or getting into a car.
I will TAKE A FRIEND with me when going places or playing outside.
I will TELL PEOPLE “NO” if they try to touch me or hurt me. It’s OK for me to stand up for myself.
I will TELL MY TRUSTED ADULT if anything makes me feel sad, scared or confused.


NetSmartzKids
SCOPE & SEQUENCE 

TOPICS
Cyberbullying is bullying that takes place over digital devices like cell phones, computers, and tablets. 
Online Enticement is a broad category of online exploitation and includes sextortion, in which a child is being groomed to take sexually explicit images and/or ultimately meet face-to-face with someone for sexual purposes, or to engage in a sexual conversation online or, in some instances, to sell/trade the child’s sexual images.
Smartphones the widespread use of smartphones helps users stay connected, but also raises privacy concerns.
Livestreaming is a video feature available on many popular apps that allows users to share real-time video.  However, videos could be recorded, saved, and later posted by users who were watching the initial livestream. 
Gaming can also have confusing or inappropriate content for children. Some have adult language or are violent or sexual. Others have advertisements that let children make purchases without parental authorization.  Sexting and Sextortion teens that sext may get in trouble at school, be bullied or harassed, or, in extreme cases, get in legal trouble.  Additionally, those who engage in sexting may also become victims of sextortion:  is a type of blackmail used by offenders to acquire additional sexual content from the child, coerce them into engaging in sexual activity, or to obtain money from the child. 
Social Media the noted positive elements included social media’s role in connecting them with friends and family, easy access to news and information, and meeting others with similar interests. The noted negative effects included bullying, lack of in-person contact, and unrealistic views of others’ lives.
Parent involvement is an important part of the KidSmartz and NetSmartzKids programs. Safety lessons work best when they are reinforced both in the classroom and at home, so you will notice your child bringing home assignments that should be completed with your help. I also strongly encourage you to visit KidSmartz.org and NetSmartzKids.org where you will find information about abduction, tips for protecting your child and activities you can do at home.

If you have any questions about the programs or would like to learn more about the lessons we will be teaching, please feel free to contact me. We are very glad to be working with your child on this program, and I hope you understand just how important your participation is. No one is better able to protect your child than you!