Keeping Kids Safe

| By: Committee for Children

The 2013 Youth Risk Behavior Survey revealed that 7.1% of U.S. youth 14–17 years old did not go to school on one or more of the previous 30 days because of safety concerns. Student safety is essential for fostering growth, relationships, and learning. Although the focus has historically been on physical safety, more recent attention has also been given to the important role of social and emotional safety in healthy student development.

Fostering safety begins with adults. Teaching, modeling, practicing, and consistently reinforcing social skills help equip kids with the competencies to respond safely to their own emotions and the potentially unsafe behaviors of others. Skills such as assertiveness, identifying other’s feelings, managing and calming down strong emotions, self-talk, dealing with peer pressure, resisting revenge, and handling specific problems (such as put-downs, accusations, and being knocked down) can play an important role in personal, physical, and emotional safety across a wide variety of situations. These skills empower youth both within and beyond the school environment.

Good social skills are associated with increased accountability, leading to improved school safety. Responsible decision making, for example, gives students the ability to make constructive and respectful choices about their own behavior and social interactions, factoring in ethical considerations, potential consequences, safety concerns, and the well-being of self and others. On their own, however, these skills are not enough for keeping kids safe. Adults also need to create secure and welcoming cultures committed to equipping students for academic and behavioral success, because conditions for learning are strengthened when students feel safe and protected in their school setting and can focus on learning. This involves providing nurturing and caring environments so students feel comfortable asking questions, expressing themselves and their emotions, and confiding in adults about their problems and concerns. It also means offering a supportive place to discuss emotions and encouraging tolerance and empathy for others. There are many different ways to create an emotionally safe school. The important thing is that the learning atmosphere fosters trust and respectful relationships and offers a safe place to learn and grow.

For more information about creating safe conditions for students, try these resources:

• Emotionally Safe Schools
• 20 Tips for Creating a Safe Learning Environment