by Irene van der Zande, Kidpower Founder and Executive Director | May 17, 2017
Once a friend asked me, ” What does a child abuser look like?”
“I wish I had an easy answer to that question,” I said. …
As adults, we need to be prepared to stay connected with our children and know who the people responsible for their safety are and what they are doing. We must ask questions and speak up anytime we have a concern, regardless of discomfort or worries we might have.
Without going into the details about sexual abuse, here is what our kids need to know:
by Irene van der Zande, Kidpower Founder and Executive Director | May 8, 2017
Without my husband Ed’s constant support of the organizational “child” I brought into our home and lives 28 years ago, there would be no Kidpower! And, since so many of you wrote about my letter to my 19-year-old self, I thought you’d enjoy a few memories and this wedding photo of Ed and I from […]
by Irene van der Zande, Kidpower Founder and Executive Director | Apr 26, 2017
I sometimes wish that I could put a letter in a bottle and send it across the ocean of time to one of my younger Selves. On my 69th birthday, as I am looking back over the years, here is what I would have liked 19-year old Irene to have known. 1. Don’t give up. […]
by Irene van der Zande, Kidpower Founder and Executive Director | Apr 1, 2017
Let’s honor Child Abuse Prevention Month this April by protecting our kids from harm – and preparing them with knowledge and skills for taking charge of their own safety. Sadly, we cannot take away the suffering caused by abuse in the past. We can and must do our best to protect the kids of today and tomorrow – and to help everyone who has survived abuse as a child to find healing and hope.
Here are seven child abuse prevention actions each of us can take this month that will make a difference.
by Irene van der Zande, Kidpower Founder and Executive Director | Mar 22, 2017
Kids and adults alike often suffer from name-calling, taunting, rude gestures, pranks, and other cruel behavior because of their weight. This handout and audio recording thanks to Healthful Life MD Abby Bleistein provide resources for health care providers and other caring adults who want to provide support and skills for young people who face much higher risks of being bullied about their weight.
by Erika Leonard, Kidpower California Program Director | Feb 21, 2017
What does a play about a coal miner’s son who loves to dance have to do with what we teach in Kidpower? We were truly honored when the Berkeley Playhouse chose Kidpower as the nonprofit partner for their current production of Billy Elliot: The Musical. And, when a group of Kidpower California folks watched the […]
by Irene van der Zande, Kidpower Founder and Executive Director | Jan 18, 2017
Kidpower is honored to be selected as the featured nonprofit partner by the Berkeley Playhouse for their upcoming performance of the award-winning Billy Elliot – The Musical, playing from February 16 to March 25. This inspiring and heartwarming story is about Billy Elliot, a coal minor’s son in England, who overcomes prejudice, embarrassment, and hardship […]
by Irene van der Zande, Kidpower Founder and Executive Director | Jan 12, 2017
Kidpower advice to stop bullying among siblings – our answer to a babysitter’s question and concerns. As the babysitter, your job is to be in charge – and you can make a big difference in these children’s lives by helping to change this bullying dynamic.
by Irene van der Zande, Kidpower Founder and Executive Director | Dec 22, 2016
As a holiday safety gift for you and your family, I wanted to share with you you some of our articles and other free educational resources that have been very helpful to the tens of thousands of people who use our free online Library each month. 1. How to Have More Fun and Fewer Problems […]
by Irene van der Zande, Kidpower Founder and Executive Director | Nov 10, 2016
I am sending love to each and every one of you who is feeling sad and upset about the outcome of our election because you fear the results of having a US president who has said and done so many harmful things in the past and during this campaign.
And I am also sending love to each of you who is feeling relieved and glad, because even though you might deeply dislike some of the behaviors of our president elect, you truly believe he was a better choice for president.
No matter who had won the presidential election, there would have been millions of people in the US and other countries who would have felt very scared and very sad and millions of others who would have felt very relieved and very glad.
No matter what your political beliefs, here are five things you can do to further values that bring people together rather than tearing them apart and to support people, especially children and teens, who are feeling deeply upset by this election:
