I Can Play It Safe

Love this book! I get it for all the children in my family as a birthday gift or a holiday gift for them to read with their parents. This book uses age-appropriate language to start an important conversation. When I was growing up, we were only taught not to get into cars with strangers. We didn’t know about good touching vs bad touching and to report any uncomfortable behavior from people we knew and trusted to our parents. This book is also from The Jacob Wetterling Resource Center. What the Wetterling family has given to the world despite what they endured is precious. This book can help you start an important dialogue with your child.

We loved this book when we bought the hard copy and are grateful to now have the e-book. These are real, effective strategies to help kids avoid danger... without terrifying kids of other people. Feigh recognizes that 'stranger danger' doesn't work, and gives real and practical alternatives that are easily understood by kids. Most importantly, the kids like reading the book and pick it up themselves. It wouldn't work otherwise!

The book is written in first person, about a child playing different games. It uses a series of metaphors which I found to be confusing - as another reviewer noted, I can't imagine how a child would make a connection either.For example, "I am a snowflake" talks about how each child is different and an individual that deserves respect. "I am a plane" shows a child pretending to be a plane and it says how these have to check in with the tower about their plans, and that kids have to do the same thing with parents. "I am a tiger" - the child pretends to growl to warn other animals about trouble - then skips to a child yelling "call 911" if they need help. "I am a detective" shows the child observing others and taking notes and then skips to not allowing a child to keep secrets with grown-ups. "I am a boat captain" talks about a taking care of your boat and keeping away from rocks and choppy waters and then skips to how others cannot touch your private areas. Say what??The illustrations are cute but the "I am" stories are only marginally related to the rules and even distracting to a point. At the end of the book I asked my five year old what he had learned and he said, "I don't remember." Honestly, I had to look at the book to even remember what these pretend games were and how they were like the rules. Not good. The messages really do get mixed up and maybe even lost among all these pretend games.At the end, grown-ups will find a one page listing safety issues which was useful in discussing with my son when I realized the message in the book wasn't clear.I ordered this book after an attempted abduction of a seven year old in our town. If my child were ever in a difficult situation, I'd hate to see him trying to remember about tigers and boats and detectives, more so when these really have little to do with what I'm trying to teach him. I really don't think this book will help at all.

Product arrived on time.I bought this for my daughter (4) because I believe it's never too early for her to learn about being safe. I like that it addresses a whole bunch of scenarios.

Using it to teach safety to 3rd graders! Great book with relatable metaphors to help understand safety rules

Excellent way to start the conversation with your children. I gave this to my daughter to share with her 8year old son. Ms Feigh has given us a great tool. Use it!

helps you have this difficult conversation

This book is pretty good for young children and probably best for use at home with parents. I used it in an elementary school in several different classrooms (K, 1st and 2nd) and the kids didn't like it very much. The character pretends to be different characters (boat captain, dectective)and the kids didn't make the connection. The message is important, but I will be using different books.

Very well explained personal safety issues without directing the child to worry unnecessarily or suspect the wrong people. Ideal for pre school children , very important for all parents & children. Unfortunately our children are most vulnerable under 5 this explains keeping safe ins gentle way. I would also recommend this to pre schools. Or after disclosures.

Really love this book, it covers pretty much everything that a kid need to know to keep himself safe. My son is 4, still a bit early to understand all of that, but he is still interested in the book.