Spotting Danger Before It Spots Your KIDS

Things change, and as the world becomes more challenging, we need to take the time to prepare our children. Not in a threatening or scary way, but in a way that is fun, engaging, and will give them the best possible chance of ensuring their own wellbeing.

Spotting Danger Before It Spots Your KIDS is a book about presenting the concepts of situational awareness to children (ages 5 - 12) in a way that will keep them engaged and help them take an active role in their own personal security.

This book will show you how to use fun, interactive games to build situational awareness skills such as:

• How children can identify and understand normal environmental behaviors.
• How children can spot abnormal behaviors within their given environment.
• How to give children a plan and a means of avoidance or escape should a dangerous situation present itself.

Whether you're a parent, relative, or work in the childcare industry, the things you impart upon children will have a lasting impact on the way they live their lives. Nowhere is this more important than in the area of personal safety. As caregivers, we have a great responsibility for the security and wellbeing of our children, and to guide them along the path to independence.

Your child’s future success will depend on their ability to interact with their surroundings and make sound decisions based on what they see. That’s the foundation of situational awareness.

Author Gary Quesenberry has spent nearly two decades working as a federal air marshal. The training methods outlined in this book are based on the lessons learned not only as a counter-terror agent but also as a father of three.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

FOREWORD

INTRODUCTION

PHASE ONE: What parents need to know

Chapter 1: The parent’s role

• The basics of awareness
• The pros and cons of technology
• Avoid teaching fear

Kids in action: Landon Clemmer saves his mom

Practical exercise

Key points

Chapter 2: How children learn new tasks

Kids in action: TJ Smith stops a kidnapping

Practical exercise

Key points

PHASE TWO: What kids need to know

Chapter 3: Teaching the basics

Kids in action: Braydon Smith stops a home invasion

Practical exercise

Key points

Chapter 4: Game night – Building a foundation for awareness

Kids in action: Eyas Tran saves his neighbor

Practical exercise

Key points

PHASE THREE: Teaching and reinforcing the specific aspects of situational awareness

Chapter 5: Situational awareness for children

• Understanding normal behaviors
• Spotting abnormal behaviors
• Creating a plan
• Taking action

Kids in action: Dylan Paul saves his teacher

Practical exercise

Key points

Chapter 6: Give your children options

• Communication
• Avoidance
• Escape
• Confrontation

Kids in action: Little Roman rescues his mom

Practical exercise

Key points

Chapter 7: Common encounters

Kids in action: CJ Saulsgiver performs CPR

Practical exercise

Key points

Chapter 8: The “what if game” – Putting it all together

Kids in action: Virgil Smith rescues his neighbors

Practical exercise

Key points

Chapter 9: Working together

Kids in action: Lexi Shymanski saves the day

Practical exercise

Key points

CONCLUSION

APPENDIX: Situational awareness checklist

BIBLIOGRAPHY

INDEX