Alerting Kids Without Alarming

By COLlive reporter

When tragedy strikes, and individuals, families and communities are left grieving and in a state of shock, one of the things bystanders do is analyze the incident and even wonder if it could have been prevented.

One such incident was the brutal murder of the 8 year-old Boro Park boy Leiby Kletzky by a mentally unstable Jewish neighbor.

It just so happens that after that killing, Monsey based educator Rabbi Yaakov Horowitz and his Project Y.E.S. in conjunction with the Artscroll Youth Series completed 2 years of work on a child-friendly handbook about safety.

“As with so many other areas in life, moderation is the key as far as parental anxiety is concerned, when having safety talks with your kids,” Horowitz advises.

“A total absence of anxiety on your part will not convey the importance of these messages, but if you are too tense, your child becomes unnerved and focuses more on your apprehension than on what you are discussing with him/her.”

True to that, the picture and rhyming book “Let’s Stay Safe” covers personal safety, staying away from strangers, crossing the street, and bicycle and fire safety. It does not mention Kletzky by name, yet that horrific tragedy looms over its 32 pages.

There’s a shady figure sitting in a car, reminding children to “run away so fast, until we’re absolutely sure that the car has passed.” Or advising to tell parents when being touched by a stranger, along with the image of an adult leading a boy into a bungalow.

But with its colorful illustrations by Tova Leff showing happy children in various day to day games and activities, the book succeeds in alerting children without alarming them.

The warning not to touch knobs on the stove even seems entertaining with the toddler smearing herself with ketchup. The same is with the reminder not to leave small objects on the floor, as the baby sits nearby chewing on a book.

Another calming factor is the presence of a fluffy teddy bear with a curious expression on his face on each and every page. He wears a helmet while riding, is wrapped up in a hose while the family wash their car and tags along to school.

Now, as known, the Lubavitcher Rebbe encouraged parents to only show kosher animals to children from a young age to keep their minds pure. So we consulted with a mashpia who said the teddy bear in this book deserves a one-time pass considering the grave importance of this issue and the lack of other proper books for frum children.

Let’s Stay Safe, 32 pages, ArtScroll Mesorah Publications, $10.79