Kids Books: Be Careful and Stay Safe

Do you need a good book to help explain to your child how to be safe and careful in the community and around the house? Having a child with special needs often requires a variety of ways that a parent can teach their children to be safe and independent in their community.

Be Careful and Stay Safe is an excellent book to read to your child (ages 4 and up). The text is simple and the illustrations are engaging. This book discusses important issues such as being careful within your home (seeking help with tasks such as a toaster, knife, etc) and becoming more independent and safe in the community.

I, personally, read this book intermittently to my own children during mealtime to reiterate the protocol for dealing with certain situations, and improving their own independence in our community and within the home.

For a child with special needs, focus on key vocabulary (e.g. such as “safe”, “trust”, “emergency”) in the book and explain terminology, such as, “What does being safe mean?” Ask your child questions to improve their problem solving skills like “What would you do if a stranger asked you to get in their car”? If your child has trouble with open-ended questions, give choices, for example: “Would you get in the car with a stranger or would you scream and run to someone you trust”? You can use fill in the blank prompts. Don’t assume that your child knows certain words. It is always worth explaining certain vocabulary words that will also help with expanding their vocabulary. Go over the acronym in the back of the book, SAFE (Stay Away From Danger, Ask for Help, Follow directions and use things carefully, and Emergencies-have a plan).

Do you have a child that is minimally verbal or non verbal? Make a communication board (see attached pdf) with important single words and phrase-based messages. As you are reading the book, discuss what is occurring on each page as you point to the pictures. Ask questions and then model the correct answer for your child using the communication board.

Picture of Be Careful and Stay Safe is property of Free Spirit Publishing.

Resources:

Meiners, Cheri. Be Careful and Stay Safe. Minneapolis, MN: Free Spirit Publishing, 2007 Interview with Cheri Meiners (December 2012)

DynaVox Mayer-Johnson
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