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Happy New Year! Every year we dedicate and add new things to our global effort of child safety and child abuse prevention.

We are focused on making a difference in kid’s lives. We want to make a difference. We also know, you do, too. You can make a positive difference in the lives of children, your own child and others.

Small differences make a huge impact. Dedicate yourself this year to do one small thing a week to make a difference. One small thing does not add time or effort to your already busy life. You may not have any idea what that difference is, just make the commitment as a first step. A simple, random act of kindness can boost someone’s self image unexpectedly, especially a child’s. We know kids that have confidence and good self images are naturally less of a target for childhood predators.

Look for things inside your family as well as outside. Start with your child. How about turning off the cell phone when you pick them up from school? What if you left the phone in the car when you got out to get them? Ten or fifteen minutes of one-on-one interaction with your child on how their day was is invaluable in a lifetime of safety.

How about the drive to the park or to dinner or shopping? When the entire family finds themselves in the car together, take 15 minutes to turn off the radio, electronics and cell phones to have some time to chat together. A “captive” audience in a car makes it just too easy an opportunity to pay a little more attention to each other and make a positive difference.

Do you see your neighbor wrestling with her garbage can? Maybe she needs a hand. How about the man at the grocery store with only 5 items, perhaps he can go ahead of you. The pushy guy at the airport can complain and yell while you calmly wait in line and be the next polite customer.

Why? How can this possibly matter in child safety?

You, one person, can make a difference. You can set an example of being the “go to” person for your child if they ever get in a safety situation, an abuse situation or threatened…because they learned they can talk to you and you’ll listen. Random chats add up. It does not take any effort or extra time, just a redirect of what you already do.

As for strangers, who knows. Maybe they’ll pass it on. One thing we can guarantee you is that your child will notice. Quietly, silently they will watch, absorb and learn, even older teens, as you set an example. Who knows where it will lead.

Make a commitment this year. Make a small difference. Turn off your electronics for 10 minutes a day – computer, radio, TV, cell phone, PDA or whatever – make a difference. Have a great, safer 2008!

Preston Jones and Joyce Jackson are child safety experts in the San Francisco Bay Area, California, USA. Keeping Kids Safe^® is a comprehensive personal safety program covering the full gamut of the things kids need to know today to be safe in their world for their entire lifetime. Their entire APPROACH to total child safety is UNIQUE. One, they teach kids to keep themselves safe. Two, they teach parents to reinforce their safety techniques at home by making families better with safer kids. For more information go to www.KeepingKidsSafeToday.com.