Ten Things Kids Can Do To Stop Violence
1. Settle arguments with words, not fists or weapons. Don’t stand around and form an audience.
2. Learn safe routes for walking in the neighborhood, and know good places to seek help. Trust your feelings, and if there’s a sense of danger, get away fast.
3. Report any crimes or suspicious actions to the police, school authorities, and parents. Be willing to testify if needed.
4. Don’t open the door to anyone you and your parents don’t know and trust.
5. Never go anywhere with someone you and your parents don’t know and trust.
6. If someone tries to abuse you, say no, get away, and tell a trusted adult. Remember, it’s not the victim’s fault.
7. Don’t use alcohol and other drugs, and stay away from places and people associated with them.
8. Stick with friends who are also against violence and drugs, and stay away from known trouble spots.
9. Get involved to make school safer and better – having poster contests against violence, holding anti-drug rallies, counseling peers, and settling disputes peacefully. If there’s no program, help start one!
10. Help younger children learn to avoid being crime victims. Set a good example and volunteer to help with community efforts to stop crime.