Are you ready to show how much you c.a.r.e.?

Violence and abuse can impact the physical, mental and emotional health of a child and leave behind scars that could affect him or her for years to come. However, by taking a stand against violence with education prevention training, you may be able to give kids the ability to protect themselves against potential threats and lead happy lives.

Are you ready to challenge abuse through respect education? Offered by the Canadian Red Cross, c.a.r.e. helps children from 5 to 9 years-old learn valuable information about safety and personal rights. Through puppetry and interactive learning activities, instructors can teach children that their bodies are their own and the distinctions between good and bad forms of touching.

Lessons also show children that they shouldn't keep secrets from adults about certain kinds of touching, and that safety comes from saying no (TALK), getting far away (WALK) and telling a trusted parent or adult (SQUAWK).

In order to bring this experience to the classroom, education professionals can reach out to the Red Cross to purchase a c.a.r.e. kit. Each kit is available in French or English, has been approved by Curriculum Services Canada and contains several resources that can help children learn more about personal safety.

In addition to a kid-friendly puppet mascot, handout templates and a resource guide, each kit offers a U.N. Rights of the Child poster, approximately 15 discussion cards, 60 copies of Keeping Our Kids Safe (a helpful booklet for parents) and 9 message cards, as well as a training program on CD-ROM.

With Your Body Is Yours!, an illustrated children's book, these valuable lessons can resonate with kids on a deeper level. Most children also respond well to song, which makes My Body, a song that espouses lessons on body ownership, a tremendous asset for teachers, educators and parents trying to empower children.

As kids read along with their favorite books, having a Walk, Talk, Squawk bookmark like those contained in each c.a.r.e. kit can keep the message of personal safety and communication at the forefront of their minds.

More than 90 per cent of educators, parents and school professionals who have used this remarkable program have found that it substantially helped increase students' knowledge of personal safety. Approximately 85 per cent found that c.a.r.e. helped children protect themselves against potential sexual abuse.

While each comprehensive c.a.r.e. kit gives you the tools you'll need to reach out and positively impact the lives of youngsters, presenters can also sign up for a one-day training class through the Red Cross to prepare themselves for educating children on safety issues. Your Body is Yours and Keeping Our Kids Safe are also available separately for interested parents.

To learn more details about this and other aspects of this informative program, you can call 1-888-307-7997 or visit your local Red Cross office.