Winner of the New England Sociological Association Sociologist of the Year (2008) Life in contemporary American society requires that children spend considerable time in the care of "other people." These people include teachers, coaches, babysitters, camp counselors, ministers, neighbors, friends, and extended family. While most people who work with children do a good job, some caregivers fail to adequately care for kids, while others actually put them in harm's way. Parents may assume that caregivers of all kinds are uniformly evaluated and "approved," but this is not always the case. American society, despite a superficial rhetoric of concern for children, has not instituted strong national, state, or local safety nets to protect them. And because there is no comprehensive commitment to ensure child safety, there is no systematic, or even partial, oversight of adults charged with their care. As a result, parents are put in the difficult position of deciding whether caregivers of all kinds are sufficiently skilled and responsible to look after children. How to Keep Your Children Safe is essential reading for any parent concerned about child safety. It takes a hard look at the hidden side of children's lives--the times when they're in contact with caregivers who aren't doing their jobs properly. It provides detailed information on places where children are under the care of others, including day care, recreational settings, religious and civic organizations, schools, and summer camps.Vissing investigates the potential perils of each setting and enumerates ways in which parents can better monitor, or take control of, their child's safety. By writing a realistic assessment of commonplace settings that every parent and child can relate to, and offering a road map to child safety,Vissing empowers parents to make critical decisions about their children's lives.

Leading family psychologist and personal therapist to Jaycee Dugard, Rebecca Bailey tells parents how to keep their children safe in this accessible, must-have guidebook, with a foreword by Terry Probyn, Jaycee's mother. Whether their children are toddlers or teens, six years old or sixteen, whether they live in a rural town, suburb, or a bustling city, all parents worry about threats—from cyber-bullying to exploitation and abduction. What should they tell their children and when? What practical steps can they take to reduce the risks and keep their kids safe? Dr. Rebecca Bailey, with the assistance of her sister and registered nurse, Elizabeth, gives easily understood, easily followed answers. Safe Kids, Smart Parents builds on Dr. Bailey’s years of experience as a family psychologist helping real families deal with real situations. From abduction to abuse, Bailey explains how parents can speak to their kids about troubling topics while building their self-esteem and teaching them how to protect themselves. A smart, comprehensive, and easy-to-read resource, Safe Kids, Smart Parents is the most important book a parent can own.

With topics ranging from gun violence, media violence and teen suicide to safety on the Internet and preventing sexual abuse, this book gives essential guidance on what parents can do to protect their children.

Our children are being raised in a society that is radically different to that of just 20 years ago, as the internet has taken a central place in our lives, and with the virtually universal adoption of smart phones and computers by young people. This revolutionary and enormously disruptive technology has created a completely new set of challenges for parents, ones that are entirely different to those of a generation ago. Keeping Children Safe Online addresses these challenges head-on. The author, John Parsons, is arguably the country¿s leading authority on cyber safety for children. He works all over New Zealand with young people and their parents, showing them how they can stay safe in the online world. He also works as a consultant with the police, teachers and the health sector, and individually with children and their families to help them when things go wrong online. John brings an unparalleled wealth of direct experience to this issue. He has used this to develop a toolbox of highly practical, realistic and effective strategies that enable both children and their parents to deal with the challenges of digital technology, such as maintaining oversight of your child in the digital world, establishing boundaries for acceptable use, and preventing online sexual predation, cyber bullying, and cyber crime. These strategies do not depend on technological know-how ¿ rather, they simply require you to have a clear set of family values, and then to enable your child to broadcast these into the online world. Keeping Children Safe Online is a hugely significant and ultimately empowering book that is essential reading for any modern parent.

Educate yourself so that your kids can enjoy the best of the internet and social media without the risks, such as cybercrime, sexting, cyberbullying, phishing, cyberstalking, grooming, nude selfies, and other internet dangers. This practical, go-to guide explains the digital dangers kids might encounter when they use social media, join chats, share selfies, use apps, and explore the internet. How do you educate children and teens about their digital footprint and protect them from trolls, bullies, frenemies, and stalkers? Learn how to set ground rules, encourage them to come to you if they are in trouble, and take action to prevent, minimize, or resolve the damage. International cybersecurity expert Will Geddes provides simple action plans, preventive steps, and no-nonsense answers to the important questions asked by concerned parents Nadia Sawalha and Kaye Adams. Learn to recognize the warning signs so that you can help kids avoid internet dangers and stay safe online.

Written by a nationally recognized child advocate attorney, Don C. Keenan reveals 365 Ways to Keep Kids Safe. Included in the book are user-friendly outlines and checklists to prevent injuries caused by everyday hazards. Parents and childcare providers who use this book will certainly provide a safer world in which children can play.