Self-Defense Tips for Kids

Get Fit

• A child who is physically fit is better able to get out of a dangerous situation. Your child gets some physical activity in gym class, but additional exercise at home improves overall fitness. Encourage your child to play actively. Running in particular can help your child get away from a potential attacker. Sports and physical activities, such as wrestling or karate, may give your child additional skills and physical agility to get away.

Be in the Know

• Knowing the surroundings helps a child stay safe. Teach your child to stay in familiar areas and take well-traveled routes. When she knows the area well, she is able to notice when something isn't right. Going into an isolated area puts her at risk for being attacked or harassed without anyone else seeing the incident. Discuss areas in your city that are off-limits due to potential danger, or set a general perimeter for your child. For example, you might allow her to walk to and from school but require her to stay within a two-block radius of that route when she is alone. Encourage your child to stay with friends and people she knows rather than walking around alone.

Go With Your Gut

• Gut instincts often provide an early warning when something isn't quite right. Using that intuition can help avoid a potential attack, according to Teens Health. Emphasize the importance of paying attention to what is going on around him. If he wears headphones or simply doesn't pay attention, he may miss the signs of potential danger. Talk about behavior that is suspicious, such as an adult who watches or follows him.

Say No, Then Go

• Kids should know how to handle a dangerous situation should the preventive measures fail. Getting away from the potential attacker is key. The National Crime Prevention Council suggests teaching the "no, go, yell, tell" method. For example, if an unknown adult tries to get your child to go with him, your child would tell the adult no and run away while yelling loudly to draw attention from a safe adult. Practice this technique with your child so she is comfortable should she need to use it. Teach your child that many adults in the community, such as teachers, firefighters, police officers and store employees, are helpful. Emphasize to your child that she should run to one of these safe adults if she feels threatened.

Take a Class

• A self-defense class designed specifically for kids helps your child practice key strategies and build confidence. Love Our Children USA suggests finding a class that uses a positive, empowering approach instead of one that scares kids. The class should get kids actively involved in learning by practicing different techniques instead of simply lecturing kids about how to defend themselves. Look for a class that teaches both how to stay safe and what to do if a dangerous situation arises. Get involved in the class so you know what your child learns in class. This allows you to reinforce those ideas at home. Visit the class ahead of time to ensure the instructor is knowledgeable and knows how to work with children.