Staying Safe for Girls
A Proactive Approach to Teaching Girls Personal Safety Skills
Anyone responsible for children—be it in a school, institution, youth serving agency, after-school program, faith-based program, or other child-care setting—knows that keeping those children protected and safe is a top concern. And in an increasingly unsafe world, shielding kids from harm may seem like a daunting task.
According to a 2002 study by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, nearly 2 million reports of alleged child abuse or neglect were investigated by child protective service agencies in 2000, representing more than 2.7 million children who were alleged victims of maltreatment. Another study, conducted by Sabol, Polousky, and Billing in 2002, estimated that nearly 17% of children born between 1998 and 2000 could be expected to have substantiated reports of maltreatment before reaching age eight.
Top Safety Concerns for Teens
- Being attacked with a weapon (35%)
- Being forced to do something sexual (34%)
- Getting a disease (32%)
- Getting into a car accident (29%)
New Challenges
The Internet, for all of its incredible benefits, is a potentially hazardous territory for children and cause for worry among concerned adults. In a 2002 Girl Scout Research Institute study called The Net Effect: Girls and New Media, over 30% of girls reported being sexually harassed in a chat room, though only 7% reported the incident to a parent or caregiver.
The effects of feeling unsafe are widespread and damaging. In the 2003 study Feeling Safe: What Girls Say, the Girl Scout Research Institute found that girls who feel physically unsafe are more likely to cope with emotionally dangerous situations by using alcohol or drugs, than girls who feel safe (13% vs. 1%), and are nearly three times as likely as those who feel safe to spend time with people who use drugs or alcohol (26% vs. 9%).
Empowering through Education
Though these statistics may seem overwhelming, there is hope. Through research-based education and activities, adults can help children gain more knowledge and build more skills than ever to feel safe and secure.
Based on current research, Girl Scouts of the USA has published the Staying Safe for Girls 4-17 book series* that teaches girls the skills and proactive attitudes they need to keep themselves safe. The series includes:
- "No Way!" A Book about Staying Safe for Girls Ages 4-6
A picture book of skill-based activities to teach girls ways to avoid or deal with potentially dangerous situations. - "Don't Go There!" A Book About Staying Safe for Girls Ages 6-8
An interactive story, ideas for group or individual activities, and topics to discuss with parents, caregivers, or educators. - "I Don't Think So!" A Book About Staying Safe for Girls Ages 8-11
A more in-depth set of activities woven through a storyline of sympathetic characters with which any girl can identify. - Focus Book: Take Charge for Girls 11-17
Addresses sensitive issues such as sexual harassment and dating violence, while offering activities that promote school and personal safety. - The Adult Guide to Staying Safe
Information and suggestions on leading safety activities for adults who will be leading a Staying Safe program directly with girls or teens. - The Council Guide to Staying Safe
Useful for local Girl Scout organizations, administrators of schools, youth serving agencies, community organizations, law enforcement agencies, and other professionals running programs for children and youth.
Each book is age-appropriate in its language and choice of activities and can be the foundation of a complete program for girls from preschool through high school, or can be used as a stand-alone resource for one specific age-level or corresponding school grade. However the books are used, the skill-building and communication that they foster can help girls feel safe at any age and in any situation.
Eight Tips to Help Girls Stay Safe
- Know your kids' friends—and their parents and siblings. Make sure that they know who you are. Be an obvious presence in their lives, not just in the vague form of "Lydia's mom." Let them know you care.
- Make a habit of asking, "What happened today?" Don't settle for "Nothing." Take advantage of any brief moment when your child opens up—in the car, making dinner, over homework. Know when to just listen and curb your desire to give advice. Sometimes just being available for your child to vent is just what they need—not the story of how you handled the same situation when you were their age.
- Allow them to use you as the excuse. "My mom said 'No'" gives them a graceful way out of any situation even if they don't acknowledge that you've helped them.
- Come up with a word or code that they can use to bail themselves out any situation. Even if they are in a situation that you wouldn't approve of, you will bail them out, question-free at that time with discussion tabled for a later time.
- Discuss the hard issues. Find moments when you can share your values and family rules. For example, a TV news clip on a famous singer arrested for drunk driving can start a conversation. Music offers another wonderful opportunity to discuss life issues.
- Be prepared for the answers, even if they were not what you expected or wanted to hear—this becomes the opportunity to support your child.
- Identify "safe havens" for children and youth who walk to and from school or take the bus (the bus should also be a place where kids feel safe). Make sure that everyone involved knows what to do in case a problem occurs.
- Encourage your school, or after-school group, to integrate the Staying Safe books into their curriculum so that girls and teens are given the skills they need to protect themselves. The contents of these books correlate with many of the bullying-prevention programs currently being offered in schools.
* To pave the way for the launch of exciting new program resources in September 2011, Girl Scouts of the USA is currently scheduling the retirement of some resources, badges, and awards. Please check inventory first with your council shop and then, if necessary, with Girl Scout Merchandise (800-221-6707) as girls begin using materials or resources on this page.
