Today was McKenna's
RadKid graduation. Our school and the PTA sponsor a great safety program for our kids called
RadKids. Tyler and Lauren have both been through it twice I think but this was McKenna's first year. They really enjoy it and look forward to the graduation where they can show off their new skills. It's a very comprehensive program and so much more than stranger danger. It's about empowering the kids and teaching them that even though they may be small, nobody has the right to hurt them and that they can fight back. The statistics they share each time always scare me and today was no different. This time they threw a new one at us about the difference between learning and actually "Doing". We need to physically practice what we teach to condition the brain to respond instinctively. The example the officer gave was of a firefighter who was responding to a fire. A young boy ran out of the house covered in flames screaming "Stop! Drop! Roll!" over and over but wasn't doing it. He had learned what to do but hadn't actually conditioned his body to actually do it. The firefighters had to tackle him.
RadKids teaches the children what to do and then practices it over and over to condition the body to react instinctively in a dangerous situation. During the graduation Chris got to play the "Stranger".
In the video, the kids practice several situations. First they run up to the "Stranger" who tries to get them to go with them. The children ask for a "password". When the stranger can't give the right password, they run away. The next lady is the "Safety Zone" where the kids are taught to run to a trusted adult and tell them what has happened. Next they run to the dummy "Bob" who has them trapped in a corner. They practice "peppering' him. Next they run to Officer Dean who physically grabs them and tries to carry them away. This is where they practice several different techniques to get away. Once he lets go, they run to safety where they practice dialing 911.
(I seem to be having trouble uploading videos lately. I don't know if anyone can view it but I can't. Hope I can get it resolved soon.)
In the video, the kids practice several situations. First they run up to the "Stranger" who tries to get them to go with them. The children ask for a "password". When the stranger can't give the right password, they run away. The next lady is the "Safety Zone" where the kids are taught to run to a trusted adult and tell them what has happened. Next they run to the dummy "Bob" who has them trapped in a corner. They practice "peppering' him. Next they run to Officer Dean who physically grabs them and tries to carry them away. This is where they practice several different techniques to get away. Once he lets go, they run to safety where they practice dialing 911.
2 comments:
Good job McKenna! You go girl! That must have been hard to resist her dad as the stranger! :o) That would be a good reminder to do twice a year with your kids for FHE! :o)
I graduated from RAD too! Such a great program :) Great work!
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