Why Do My Children Need Personal Safety Training?

As parents, it seems that we have even more things to keep us up at night when it comes to the well-being of our children. When they are young, we do our best to shield them from the negativity of the world while encouraging their curiosity and growth. We place them in sports and activities to help them be well-rounded and to develop their interests. We schedule playdates to help them with socialization skills. We are there with them at those activities, watching intently, ready to intervene should they need us.

In the blink of an eye, our children are young adults, and they ask us to drop them off so they can hang out with their friends at various locations. Now what? Without us there, do they have the skills and strategies they need to navigate that same world that offers them opportunities for growth and socialization, but also contains the negative elements we had tried so hard to shield them from? Suddenly, the simple directive of “Don’t talk to strangers” provides little in the way of safeguarding their well-being or comforting our anxiety as we drive away from them.

As the father of two young adults, I understand your fear and worry. Through the years, as a defensive tactics instructor and member of Federal law enforcement, I did my best to give my children the skills and strategies they needed to safely navigate the world on their own, in a language and context they could relate to, without paralyzing them with the anxiety that their safety was constantly being threatened. Just like so many other decisions in life, when faced with potential threats to their personal safety, children need to have the tools to observe a situation; evaluate the advantages, disadvantages, and consequences of courses of action; make an informed decision; and act on that decision. These are life skills that will serve children well into adulthood, and in whatever environment those decisions need to be made.

There is no practical handbook on parenting that works for all of us, and these are not always easy discussions to have, but the knowledge and experience of Insight Personal Safety LLC can help families collaborate and connect in the comfort of their own home to help children grow into adults exhibiting confidence, proper decision-making, and enhanced personal safety.

Let us know how Insight Personal Safety LLC can facilitate these important discussions with your family today.