Last September, I made the Kidpower Protection Promise to many young friends as part of my personal commitment to our first International Child Protection Month.

From the new edition of the Kidpower Safety Comics: People Safety Skills for Children ages 3 to 10. Click the image to download a PDF you can use as a poster. (Scroll down for more posters – including those aimed toward youth (ages 9-14), teens and adults.)

I took the hands of one six-year-old, who we’ll call Molly, and started, “You are VERY important to me!.”

“I know that,”  Molly nodded and smiled.

“And if you have a safety problem I want to know!” I continued.

“Of course you do,” she said confidently.

“Even if I seem too busy,” I went on.

“You are too busy sometimes, “Molly sighed.

“That’s why I’m saying this to you,” I explained. “And even if someone we care about might be upset.”

“Who would that be?” Molly wondered.

“Anyone!” I said firmly, “Even if ANYONE would be upset, no matter how much we care about this person – and even it is embarrassing and even if you made a mistake! Please tell me and I will do everything in my power to help you!”

“I will. And I did know that,’ Molly smiled and added wisely. “But I’m glad you told me anyway because sometimes kids forget or get confused.”

From the new edition of our Fullpower Safety Comics: People Safety Skills for Teens and Adults. Click the image to download a PDF you can use as a poster.

One of our instructors also made the Kidpower Protection Promise to a colleague who was having a hard time. Her grateful and relieved response helped us realize that, as with most of the skills and knowledge we teach, what is important for kids is often also important for adults – to be told clearly that, no matter what, we care about each other’s safety.

So, to help us get International Child Protection Month off to a good start, please make the Kidpower Protection Promise to every person in your life – young or old – who you are in a position to support.

Print out one or more of our Kidpower Protection Promise posters – and post in your office, classroom, or on your refrigerator – because we all sometimes forget or get confused – and it is important to create opportunities to help us remember.

And please share this blog post through all your social networks online – and in person.

Imagine the impact if all caring adults discussed this message with every child in our lives!

From the new edition of the Kidpower Youth Safety Comics for kids ages 9-14. Click the image to download a PDF you can use as a poster.

International Child Protection Month is a global initiative to inspire, promote, and celebrate adult leadership in protecting young people from harm and in empowering children and teens with knowledge and skills to take charge of their own well being.

Last year, we reached over 300,000 caring adults with free online safety resources thanks to the help of our partners and centers around the world.

We are working with individual, local, national, and international partners to share free online safety and child protection information and resources with simple actions and skills that each of us can take to increase the safety and well-being of young people. With your help, our goal is to reach 1 million caring adults this year with ways they can take leadership in keeping kids safe.

Please feel free to contact us with ideas and questions.

Imagine the impact if all caring adults discussed this message with every child in our lives.

Irene van der Zande, Kidpower Founder and Executive Director

Kidpower Founder and Executive Irene van der Zande is a master at teaching safety through stories and practices and at inspiring others to do the same. Her child protection and personal safety expertise has been featured by USA Today, CNN, Today Moms, the LA Times, and The Wall Street Journal. Publications include: cartoon-illustrated Kidpower Safety Comics and Kidpower Teaching Books curriculum; Bullying: What Adults Need to Know and Do to Keep Kids Safe; the Relationship Safety Skills Handbook for Teens and Adults; Earliest Teachable Moment: Personal Safety for Babies, Toddlers, and Preschoolers; The Kidpower Book for Caring Adults: Personal Safety, Self-Protection, Confidence, and Advocacy for Young People, and the Amazon Best Seller Doing Right by Our Kids: Protecting Child Safety at All Levels.