About Irene van der Zande

Irene van der Zande is the Founder and Executive Director of Kidpower Teenpower Fullpower International, a global nonprofit leader dedicated to child protection advocacy and teaching people of all ages and abilities life skills for safety and success. Families, schools, and organizations worldwide use Kidpower's effective and empowering curriculum to prepare children and teens, along with their adults, with skills and strategies to prevent and solve problems with people and to stay safe from most bullying, abuse, kidnapping and other violence. Irene is the author of many publications including The Kidpower Book for Caring Adults: Personal Safety, Self-Protection, Confidence, and Advocacy for Young People; cartoon-illustrated Safety Comics and Teaching Books; the Relationship Safety Handbook for Teens and Adults; and Solve Bullying With Kidpower. Since 1989, Kidpower has served nearly 5 million people through its workshops, partnerships, and educational resources. https://www.kidpower.org

Website: https:///www.kidpower.org

Articles by Irene

How to Stop Cyberbullying: Digital Citizenship for Children

Last updated on May 24th, 2018 at 05:07 pm“Cyberbullying” or “electronic aggression” means deliberately using technology such as smartphones, the internet, social media, or gaming environments to harass, humiliate, badmouth, or threaten someone. Like any form of bullying, online bullying can poison someone’s joy in life, reputation, and well being. An antidote is a substance that can counteract...

10 Kidpower Safety Tips for Parents of Young Children

Last updated on March 2nd, 2018 at 02:46 pmLong before they can talk or move on their own, babies are getting lessons from their adults about what it means to be safe and to be important. Our job as adults is to provide nurturing, love, guidance, and protection. As toddlers and preschoolers start to develop more mobility, understanding, and language, our job is also to start teaching them how to be...

“What if Someone Starts Shooting Kids at My School?”…

Last updated on September 2nd, 2015 at 11:27 pmLast Saturday, I got a note from a mother who wrote, “My six-year-old daughter just asked me, ‘What if someone starts shooting kids at my school? What should I do?’ It breaks my heart that my child even has to think about something this horrible! What can I possibly say or do that will help her?” Countless parents and teachers are now having to...

Safety Checklist for Kids on Their Way to School

Last updated on June 5th, 2018 at 03:08 pmWe’ve been following the news about Sierra LaMar, a 15-year-old who disappeared near her home in Morgan Hill, CA sometime between a text message sent to a friend and nine minutes later when she didn’t show up to her school bus on March 16. Reports Thursday say that police no longer think she may have run away and believe that she was most likely kidnapped,...

Three Strategies for Protecting Kids from Sexual Predators

Last updated on March 3rd, 2018 at 11:27 amThe Penn State Football child abuse scandal in the US is a classic case of someone misusing his position of trust and power to abuse and coerce kids and of adults in responsible positions not taking action to stop him. Parents are left wondering, ““What do I need to look out for? How can I protect my kids? What can I teach them about protecting themselves?” In...

One Million Safer Kids…begins with ONE

Last updated on March 3rd, 2018 at 11:28 amWhat if any of us saw a child about to be harmed? We’d want to do something to help that child! None of us has the power to make others stop doing dangerous things, but we each have the power to take action today that will make kids safer. Kidpower, a global leader in personal safety education, including bullying prevention, child abuse prevention, and...