Child Safety

Child Safety is a well-written, readable guide for parents and caretakers, educators, and health care professionals, providing an outstanding overview of timely, important, complex problems that confront us, and our children. It reminds us that our children are challenged everyday and must meet critical decisions related to substance use, sexuality, violence, and development of their self-image, among others, head-on. The authors offer practical, usable advice and educational information, including tips on how to respond and guide children through these turbulent issues.

This book is an excellent resource for anyone concerned with keeping children physically and psychologically safe and free from harm in an ever more complex world.

Chapters related to the Internet and threats of terrorism give valuable and up-to-date information about the risks of living in today’s highly complex world. The checklists offer easy-to-follow tips for parents and caregivers, allowing for the most difficult subject matter to be dealt with in an effective and informed manner.

As the types and scope of influences on our children continue to mushroom at warp speed, parents and those who advise them are rightly feeling overwhelmed and uncertain about how and when they should intervene, draw the line, or pull the plug. Dr. Giardino and his associates provide a solid book, grounded in the most current research and understanding of these complex issues. The text educates us about the issues but, more importantly, provides concrete advice about what really matters. From child abuse to interpersonal violence to substance abuse and the Internet, this is a powerful tool for everyone involved with raising children in a world where young people are bombarded with media, hype, and marketing from the moment they can sit up and watch television.

With an emphasis on current research findings, this book provides great insight into some of the pressures and challenges facing today’s youth, including bullying, drugs, sexual activity, media violence, and parental divorce. Peppered with case examples from the authors’ clinical work, this resource will help parents, educators, and clinicians develop a clearer understanding of the impact of these and other risk factors on children’s mental health. Having a heightened awareness of these issues will also enhance readers’ personal and professional relationships with children and adolescents.

This book is a common sense, easy-to-understand, but thorough, approach to child safety. As a former medical consultant to a day care center, I know there are many health-related issues that face those who provide day-to-day care and education to children. Having a reliable source to clarify the issues surrounding common health concerns will not only decrease anxiety and worry, but also help utilize the health care system more effectively. Of note is the book’s coverage not only of traditional topics such as poisonings, tobacco use, and sexual activity, but also of very modern concerns such as tattoos, terrorism, and the risks of Internet use. The authors are to be commended for their approach to these new morbidities.