Frequently Asked Questions

  1. What is Kids in the Know?
  2. What is the philosophy of the program?
  3. What makes KIK a good resource?
  4. What makes KIK different from other resources?
  5. How can parents be involved?
  6. How is the program used?
  7. Who supports the program?
  8. Is Kids in the Know available in French?
  9. What is the Coordination with Cybertip.ca
  10. Is training required?
  11. Where can you get the Program?

  1. What is Kids in the Know?

    Kids in the Know is a safety program designed to reduce the incidence of child sexual exploitation and missing children. It consists of lessons for students from Kindergarten to High School. Lessons evolve at increasing levels of complexity conducive to the target age group of the children. The program includes background information on child sexual exploitation and personal safety education. It includes supplementary materials such as children’s books, puppets, a comic and classroom posters.

  2. What is the philosophy of the program?

    The foundation of the program is based on Seven Root Safety Strategies and Four Root Safety Environments. These root safety principles are reinforced and practiced throughout every grade. The program has been designed to promote and reinforce a common language for teaching personal safety to children/youth. In developing the root safety strategies, a brain-based approach was used to increase retention rates – for instance, using rhythm, rhyme, repetition, and multi-modal methods. The four root safety environments are used to show children that safety strategies transcend environments and should be integrated into daily life wherever they are.

  3. What makes KIK a good resource?

    Research shows that a 30 minute crash course in personal safety is ineffective. Rather, safety strategies need to be incorporated into children’s daily lives to increase the likelihood they will use them. Kids in the Know lessons are activity-based and allow roll play, rehearsal, and feedback from the instructor. Providing opportunities for children to anticipate dangerous situations that they might encounter will increase the likelihood that they will employ the strategies if they encounter a similar situation.

  4. What makes KIK different from other resources?

    Kids in the Know is unique in that it addresses child sexual exploitation and personal safety equally. It incorporates the Internet as an environment where children need to employ safety strategies, but emphasizes the importance of protective factors being used both online and offline. The program uses data from Cybertip.ca to remain current and effectively address risks. It also fosters a community-based approach to prevention by coordinating classroom lessons with activities for parents available on our website.

  5. How can parents be involved?

    Activities that supplement learning in the classroom are available for parents to download from our Resource section. Additionally, parents can access information regarding child sexual exploitation and personal safety; and learn strategies to increase their child’s safety.

  6. How is the program used?

    Kids in the Know has been designed to be used by teachers. As teachers are familiar with the individual needs of students and have an established rapport, it is most effective and prudent for teachers to address (or be involved in) this sensitive issue with their students. Kids in the Know plays a supportive role to schools with implementation of the program, such as providing posters and supplementary material, answering questions, visiting the classroom as a guest speaker and delivering parent presentation on personal safety.

  7. Who supports the program?

    The program has been reviewed by the Manitoba Department of Education and is designated as a recommended resource in Manitoba for meeting Outcomes in the Manitoba Physical Health Curriculum. A Kids in the Know presentation at CMEC to all Ministers of Education in Canada has been followed up by a review of the program by all provinces and territories.

  8. Is Kids in the Know available in French?

    Yes, all material is available in French, including the website www.enfantsavertis.ca

  9. What is the Coordination with Cybertip.ca?

    Information gleaned through Cybertip.ca is used to create preventative education material for KIK. The program is updated with new lessons as new trends of risk are identified through Cybertip.ca.

  10. Is training required?

    Training is available, yet not a mandatory component to implement the program.

  11. Where can you get the Program?

    The program can be purchased through Kids in the Know by calling 1.800.532.9135 or online.