3-Minute Guru

---

Is there a gun in the house?

BY CHERIE BENJOSEPH AND SALLY BERENZWEIG

When you drop your child at a friend's house for a play date, do you ever think to ask the parent if there is a gun in the house? (It is estimated there is a gun in half of U.S. homes). Would your child know what to do if they found or were shown a gun?

We see all too often in the news - a child accidentally shoots and kills a friend or sibling. Can these tragedies be stopped by prevention education?

Teach your child to use what we call their "inner safety voice" - the voice inside their heads that asks: Should I do this? Will I get into trouble? How can I get out of it? Or simply, "Uh-Oh."  We all have this voice (our intuition), but we need to train children to hear and then use it as a sign to stop ... think ... and make a safe choice.

It's important to act out safety situations so kids will know what to do. In our KidSafe classes, we show a picture of a girl and boy playing hide and seek and tell a story: "Joe and Molly are on a play date,  playing hide and seek at Joe's house. Joe hides in his parents' closet. (KidSafe recommends that parents' bedrooms be kept off-limits on play dates). Molly says, 'I found you' and Joe says, 'You will never believe what I found ... my dad's gun!  Want to see it?' "

This is when we discuss with the children: What is your inner safety voice saying? What should you
do? What should you say? We then role play this with the kids.  

Acting out various safety situations is imperative.  It creates muscle memory in children, making it easier for them to recall the information later.

Teaching children to use their safety voice helps them to learn that they don't always have to react
or respond immediately.

So what should Molly say? "No, Joe, it's not safe - let's get away from the gun."

Continue challenging the kids with questions: What if Joe won't go, or says, "Molly, don't be a baby.
My dad lets me see it all the time."

We tell children to try to have your friend come with you ... but if they won't, go get help as fast
as you can so you stay safe.

The next question we ask, and you can role play with your child is, "Should you take the gun to the
grownup in charge?" The answer is NO! Under no circumstances should you ever touch a gun! You go tell
the adult where it is and let the adult take care of it.

If you have a gun in your home, take the safety measures to protect your family and visitors. Some
common safety tips:

• Keep guns locked in a safe.
• Keep guns and ammunition separate.
• Have a child-safety lock put on the gun itself.

• The next KidSafe family seminar is 6:30 p.m. Nov. 10 at Hagen Road Elementary School in Boynton Beach. Free. Simultaneous sessions for parents and kids.