NCJ Number
156936
Date Published
1994
Length
63 pages
Annotation
This handbook is designed for police officers who are preparing to talk to preschool-aged children about drug and violence prevention and safety.
Abstract
The first section provides insight into how young children act and outlines some recommendations on teaching them about health and safety issues. The second section introduces a variety of discussion topics, along with activities to help the police officer teach important concepts; many activities involve McGruff the Crime Dog, and his nephew Scruff, recognizable and popular figures to children. Some of the specific topics police officers may want to cover with children include procedures to follow when a stranger calls or knocks the door at home, how to cross the street, car safety, separation from parents, use of the telephone to summon help, medicine versus drugs, bullies, guns and other weapons, awareness of strangers, and how to distinguish between touches that are acceptable and those that are not. The manual includes handouts and letters to parents, and a resource list.