Earlier this month, a six-year-old got to meet Mickey and Minnie Mouse at Disney World!
When Mickey reached out for a hug, the child confidently used Kidpower strategies he learned from his parents.
He cheerfully said, “No, thanks! I don’t like to hug strangers!”
Then, he asked to pose for a picture to remember this special moment with Mickey and Minnie – who BOTH respected his boundaries!
This is what’s possible when kids learn that being kind doesn’t mean accepting unwanted touch. And that they can say NO to someone they care about and still feel loved.
Every day, thanks to donors like you, Kidpower is making this a reality for children everywhere.
With the help of your support, thousands more children will grow up feeling safe, connected, and protected – in all the adventures of their lives.
Published: December 21, 2025 | Last Updated: December 21, 2025
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.