SAN ANTONIO – While fighting crime may not be considered child's play, a program run by a nonprofit group aims to make it every child's business to defend themselves against predators.
The program, radKIDS, is an intensive 10-hour course that covers many of the potential threats a child may face, both in the real world and on the worldwide web.
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"We teach children everything from animal safety, bike safety, gun safety, bullying. We teach them about cyberbullying, Internet safety," said Clarissa Zamora, the program director.
Zamora takes the life lessons to schools and even private venues all over town.
The course is made possible through Child Safe, a nonprofit agency which usually works with children who have suffered abuse.
The goal of radKIDS, though, is to give participants the skills to head off that type of trouble before it happens.
"To get that fight or flight response going so that that child can know the instincts to say, 'OK, this is what I need to do,' because a radKID always has a plan," Zamora said.
However, a plan is just the beginning. The course also arms the participants with physical skills that aim to enable them to get away from trouble.
On a recent day, about a dozen boys and girls took part in the program at a private clubhouse in a Northeast side subdivision.
Annie Graham, a slightly built 9-year-old, balled up her fist to deliver a powerful blow to a padded dummy.
"No one has the right to hurt me and I'm really special," she said, repeating one of the program's mantras.
Her mother, Erin, said she is grateful for the important lesson, but also hopeful that her daughter is never put to the test.
"I think it's wonderful. Hopefully, they'll never have to use these in the real world. But if they do, they're prepared," she said.
For more information on the radKIDS program, call Child Safe at 210-675-9000.