Safety First!
Since we are talking about service to children, we have the responsibility to protect them however we can.
Some examples:
Make sure your bookshelves are safe, anchor them!
When reading with children, don’t light candles or do anything that isn’t safe for them to do on their own (since they may want to recreate the experience for themselves).
Don’t read books that may scare them or worry them or disempower them in any way. Books are powerful, make sure you are making good choices. When something controversial or concerning comes up in a book, make sure you talk about it.
Build your own safety credentials. People should be required to prove their trustworthiness before they go around children, so I’m all about getting screened by your local school system or whatever agency you work for. Officially volunteering for the local school system (and getting background checked) is an easy way to show your trustworthiness.
If your kids are reading with a volunteer, make sure they are safe. If they are employed through the school system or local government agency, they should have been background checked. If you are inviting a reader into your home, check their credentials, and stay nearby until you’ve gotten a chance to know the reader. Talk to your kids about their reading experience to make sure its working for them and not harming them in any way.
Do you have any thoughts about how to keep this process safe? Please share them below.
