| Lately, school attacks have been in the news. | | | | school is seen as a possible threat, the school should |
| Unfortunately, they seem to be growing more and | | | | be alerted immediately. |
| more common. How do you teach your children to | | | | You should also teach your children to pay attention |
| be safe in the case of such attacks? | | | | if their friends seem depressed or even suicidal. |
| Most schools, particularly those at the kindergarten | | | | Although many adults don't believe it, young children, |
| through twelfth grade level, have a zero tolerance | | | | especially those entering the teenage years, can be |
| policy with regards to weapons of any kind. This | | | | depressed. Depression is not limited only to adults |
| means no guns, no knives, and no pepper spray. | | | | and older teens. If your child sees his or her friends |
| Even if you give your child a small canister of pepper | | | | or anyone else at school with a gun, knife, or other |
| spray simply for self defense reasons, both you and | | | | weapon, a teacher or other school authority should |
| your child can get in serious trouble if this is | | | | be told immediately. This can stop school violence |
| discovered. | | | | before it even starts. |
| Since weapons, even nonlethal ones that are | | | | Because children are unarmed when in school, the |
| designed for self defense, are banned on school | | | | best plan if they think that someone wants to hurt |
| property, you'll need to consider other ways to | | | | them is to go away from that person and tell an |
| prepare your children for such attacks. The truth is, | | | | adult. It is a personal decision what you choose to tell |
| they are much more likely to come up against more | | | | your kids about bullies, whether they should try to |
| routine violence, such as bullying, than against a mass | | | | fight back, or immediately tell an adult, or some other |
| school shooting like those that have been on the | | | | response. Still, they should at least know how to |
| news. Though the level of violence can vary greatly | | | | protect themselves if someone tries to pick on them. |
| depending on the age of the kids and the particular | | | | Particularly if your child has a problem with bullies, self |
| school, you can bet that your children will have to | | | | defense classes can give them the confidence to |
| face a violent or threatening situation at some point | | | | deal with these issues. |
| during their educational career. | | | | Schools today can be frightening, depending on the |
| Your advice should depend on your child's age. | | | | particular environment and your child. Give your child |
| Younger children should simply be told to tell an adult | | | | the skills they need to be successful in such an |
| if another child is threatening them or harassing them, | | | | environment by boosting their self confidence and |
| while older children may be unwilling to do so and | | | | helping them to learn what to do in situations such as |
| want to handle the situation themselves. Of course, | | | | these. All students deserve to go to school in an |
| in all cases if an adult who is not a student at the | | | | environment where they are safe from harm. |