Some ideas for empowering kids as they make good choices

You can see some pictures and essays (these have the letter e in front) that some kids created to teach others by clicking on the numbers in red at the ends of some of the items:

• Always be sure to wear your safety belt, sit in the back seat, and if you use a child safety seat ask the driver "is my seat in properly back here?" 1 2
• Always guess that a gun is loaded (and dangerous!) and don't ever touch a gun unless you've been trained in gun safety and you're with a responsible adult e1 2
• Ask other people in your family to see your house the way you do and safety-proof it to prevent falls and injury hazards. (This may mean a tour your house for your parents on their knees, which can be very fun to watch! Also make sure your parents look out for window hazards, and objects with cords that you might pull down!)
• Avoid hot surfaces and liquids and learn what's safe to touch and what's not 1 2
• Become aware of your surroundings and what you need to do if you get lost
• Brush your teeth twice a day, floss, and get regular check ups 1 2
• Carefully check expiration dates on the foods you eat to make sure they are fresh
• Check to make sure that the temperature of the water heater in your home is 120 degrees F or lower
• Exercise at least 15 minutes everyday, 30 if you can 1 2
• Get a mentor and be a good mentor to people younger than you (a mentor is someone who can teach you things and someone you trust, like a teacher, a coach, or someone else who gives you good advice)
• Get into the habit of reading - read books, read product manuals when people get new things in the house or when you get new toys, read the newspaper so that you can learn what is happening, and read articles 1 2 3
• If you take a medication, make sure you know what it is, when to take it, and that you carry it with you if you might need it, and if you get hurt, make sure that you get help and take care to heal your injuries 1 2
• If you don't know what something is, then don't put it in your mouth (note that if your parents are telling you what it is, like a new fancy vegetable, then this doesn't count!)
• Keep high expectations for your performance in school - expand your mind! 1 2 3 4
• Keep out of the locked, out-of-reach places you're not supposed to be in
• Learn the proper uses of tools and appliances and study science and math so that you can understand how they work
• Learn about what adults do in their jobs and try to connect with them, remember that you're going to grow up to be an adult
• Learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and basic first aid
• Learn to play an instrument or become a history buff (or both, or get another healthy habit)
• Make a family project of making sure you don't have any defective or recalled product lying around and if you find any then get them fixed or get rid of them - check out www.recalls.gov to see what products have been recalled
• Make a project with your family to learn the plants in your home and yard that are poisonous
• Make good choices 1 2 e1
• Make sure someone you love always knows where you are - phone home 1 2
• Make sure you go for routine check-ups with your doctor and you get all your shots
• Never play in the street or behind parked cars, and always look both ways before crossing the street (if you are in elementary school or younger then always cross with a grown-up) 1
• Never swim alone and if you need help bathing make sure that you are never without a grown-up by saying "wait I need to get out of the bath if you're leaving - I can't be in here without a grown-up!"
• Never use electrical appliances near water
• No yelling
• Pick up your toys to protect small children from items that are dangerous like toys they can choke on, plastic bags, and deflated or popped balloons, and also to protect people from tripping on them and getting hurt
• Practice how to stay low and get out of the building in case of fire, talk with you family about your plan for evacuation in case of a fire (practice a home fire drill), and make sure you know how to stop, drop, and roll if your clothing ever catches on fire 1 2
• Practice with your family when you should call 9-1-1 and what you should say, but never call unless it's a real emergency
• Remind drivers to turn motor vehicle engines off when parked and talk with your family about carbon monoxide (a gas that you can't see but that can be poisonous if you breathe too much)
• Respect animals and pets; avoid  screaming, aggressive acts, and staring into the eyes of a dog; don't approach, pet, or touch an unfamiliar animal, and practice staying calm and quiet with your arms by your sides or curling up into a ball and covering your ears if a bad dog tried to attack you 
• Spend at least 20 minutes a day talking happily with people in your family 1 2
• Stay away from raw meat, chicken, and eggs, and if you touch them then wash your hands really well afterward
• Stay home when you don't feel well and expect others to do the same
• Study a foreign language and learn about people in other cultures so that you improve your ability to understand other perspectives
• Surf the Internet and instant message safely - don't talk to strangers on-line and don't provide personal information unless you know the person receiving it won't hurt you and the site is secure
• Take the opportunities to try new things at school and elsewhere, but always use good judgment
• Talk to your parents (and/or other grown-ups you trust) about the risks associated with drugs, alcohol, and STDs (some terrible diseases), and how to avoid these (if you surf the Internet alone, then you might try looking for information about STDs there)
• Teach other kids how to make good choices
• Tell your parents if you see peeling paint in your house or anything that looks like it might need to be fixed
• Try not to allow anyone to smoke in your house and try asking any smokers nicely to please go outside
• Tune out of television and video games and tune into life (limit media consumption to less than 1 hour per day and become a media deconstruction expert) example 1 2 3 4
• Use sunscreen and sunglasses when you're out in the sun - sunglasses are cool anyway and sunscreen is invisible! e1
• Volunteer in your community - you're never too young to start helping out!
• Wash your hands frequently (including front, back, and between the fingers) - always before meals and after using the toilet 1 2
• Wash fruits and vegetables (or ask an adult to do it for you) before you eat them - and eat lots and lots of them! 1
• Watch out for strings around your neck on clothing or when playing
• Watch your friends for signs of depression, illness, and eating disorders, and get help if any warning signs appear
• Wear helmets and protective equipment when you ride bikes or do sports or recreation, and make sure that you plan ahead 1 2 3
• When in doubt, call your doctor's office, and don’t be embarrassed to ask questions because your doctor is there to help you
• When you play outdoors, look for hidden hazards like loose swings and boards on playground equipment and don't play on stuff that is not safe. Play outdoors a lot! 1
• Work out conflicts using words - become a skilled negotiator
• Write the poison control phone number by every phone (1-800-222-1222), and make sure that people know to call immediately in case of suspected poisoning 1

Several kids involved in a D.A.R.E. program in Chicago with Office Eddie Chapman drew the following pictures to teach kids not to smoke or use drugs 1 2 3 4 5(page a,b,c,d,e,f,g)