Staying safe: tips on streetproofing your kids - CFN newsletter 83

CHRISTIAN FAMILY NETWORK NEWSLETTER 83

> Streetwise? Tips to help you keep your kids safe
> News:
> Youth for Christ warning for Church
> Young people get their say on politics
> Checks essential for churches' child protection
> Sites:
> An evangelistic diet site for women
> UK site for Christian home educators
> Marriage MOT: Take responsibility for your relationship
> Events: Stacks of new events for all ages
> Alive for God womens events booking now in Wimborne and Birmingham
> You've got to laugh: Efficiency in the home
> Members' Zone latest

Dear All

I've posted a couple of discussion starters on our Bulletin Board - I'd welcome your input ...

We've got stacks of material to inform, stimulate and entertain you this update, so please let us know what you find useful - and what you'd like to see more of.

And don't forget - if we can pass on material (sample copies of Families Together, leaflets) which will help you tell your friends and your church about CFN, just mail Lyn Bedford at marketing@christianmedia.org.uk and she'll be glad to help you out.

Every blessing

Russ Bravo
Christian Family Network
info@cfnetwork.co.uk
http://www.cfnetwork.co.uk

ADVICE

How to streetproof your children - and help them stay safe

• Positive Parenting director EILEEN JONES has some invaluable tips for parents and teachers
  

Most parents want to warn their children about sexual abuse - but they don’t know HOW! These guidelines will help you to teach your children how to keep safe.

• Most children are abused by people they know well.
  
  
• Parents who talk openly with their children will be 'askable'. Parents and children will feel free to ask questions and to bring their worries and concerns to you in the future. Talking to your children sensitively can be a very positive action.
  
  
• An unattended child is a child at risk. Arrange with your child an alternative place to wait if you are delayed - especially in the darker winter evenings. Suggest a well-lit shop or school.
  
  
• Always, where possible, arrange for children to walk in pairs or groups.
  
  
• Don’t allow your children to play out after dark.
  
  
• Children should always travel the same way home. If you have to meet them you will then know which route to take.
  
  
• Make sure your child tells you when he goes into other homes. A modern form of emotional abuse is to show children horror/ pornographic/occult videos. Always ask (at birthday parties, etc) what films are going to be shown - or have been shown. Don’t trust other people’s good sense - they may show films unsuitable for the age of your child!
  
  
• Why not consider using a secret family code if you ask another adult to collect your children? Children should never go with anyone, not even a close family friend, unless they are able to give your child the chosen code word

How do you discuss the danger of abuse? What do you do if the unthinkable happens? Who are the experts to contact? For the rest of this article go to our Advice section at http://www.cfnetwork.co.uk/members/advice.asp

> THIS WEEK'S NEWS

> Youth for Christ warning for Church

The Church is in danger of losing a whole generation unless it begins to influence young people more effectively, says a major Christian youth ministry.

Go to http://www.cfnetwork.co.uk/members/news.asp for the full story

> Young people get their say on politics

YMCA, Charter88, and BskyB have been giving young people a voice at the current round of party conferences at Access All Areas: Connecting Young People with Politics.

Go to http://www.cfnetwork.co.uk/members/resources.asp for the full story

> Checks essential for churches' child protection

The Churches Child Protection Advisory Service (CCPAS) has sought to calm fears churches may have about the Government’s Criminal Records Bureau (CRB), and urged churches to access the agency’s records as part of their child protection procedures.

Go to http://www.cfnetwork.co.uk/members/news.asp for the full story

> MARRIAGE MOT

> Check out our archived marriage tips in the Members' Zone, plus stacks more marriage resources at http://www.2-in-2-1.co.uk .

Taking responsibility for our relationship

It's so easy in our married lives to take each other for granted or to have a wonderful accounting system: I did that for him yesterday, he ought to do this for me today. We can have such high expectations of each other: "She ought to know I need her loving touch tonight. I shouldn't have to tell her."

Such attitudes can soon lead to a sense of disappointment and sadness, a sense of something beautiful tarnished or damaged.

Where does the responsibility for the quality of our marriage lie - with husband or with wife? In fact it lies with each of us, surely. If we are both trying to understand each other, and to be open about our own joys, fears and needs, trying to serve each other and pour out our love to each other, then our marriages will flourish, fed and watered by the determination to be the best we can for each other.

Don't wait today for your loved one to show his/her love for you. What can you do to strengthen your marriage today and show him/her that you value them above all else?
.......................................................................
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> EVENTS

• Wimborne: Monica Acton, Merry Hill Cottage, Long Lane, Colehill,Wimborne, Dorset BH21 7AQ (Tel 01202 885589)
  
  
• Birmingham: Maxine Pitherson, Birmingham Christian Centre, 1 The Parade, Birmingham B1 3QQ (Tel 0121 236 2997)
  

What is a real felt need for about 90% of women? Yes, weight. So check out Terri's new evangelistic page built around this issue, offering practical advice and resources and also leading to some evangelistic input. http://www.getrealdiet.com

Teach your child at home - or thinking about it? Take a look at Home Service - a support organization for Christian home educators at www.home-service.org And check out our News Extra piece on their recent conference ...

ONLINE EVANGELIST?

If you're comfortable with the internet and have a heart for the lost, Christian outreach site Acts on the Net is looking for you!

Sharon at Acts on the Net is looking to put together a team of online evangelists, so if that sounds exciting to you, pay a visit to http://www.acts-on-the-net.org or mail her at info@acts-on-the-net.org

> YOU'VE GOT TO LAUGH ...

An efficiency expert concluded his lecture with a note of caution. "You don't want to try these techniques at home."

"Why not?" asked somebody from the audience.

"I watched my wife's routine at breakfast for years," the expert explained. "She made lots of trips between the refrigerator, stove, table and cabinets, often carrying a single item at a time. One day I told her: 'Honey, why don't you try carrying several things at once?'"

"Did it save time?" the guy in the audience asked.

"Actually, yes," replied the expert. "It used to take her 20 minutes to make breakfast. Now I do it in seven."

www.mikeysfunnies.com

• > CHRISTIAN FAMILY NETWORK THIS WEEK
  (MEMBERS' ZONE) - http://www.cfnetwork.co.uk/members/default.asp
  

> Advice

> Streetproof your kids - tips on helping your kids stay safe
> Autism - one mum tells her story about family life with an autistic son

> Resources

> Dogs - a few things you just wish they knew
> Elizabeth Corcoran - our regular columnist's latest Moments with Mum

> News:
> Youth for Christ warning for Church
> Young people get their say on politics
> Checks essential for churches' child protection

> News extra: Christian home educators conference report

> Reviews

> The latest in Gospel, contemporary and worship music

> Top sites this week

> evangelistic diet site for women
> Christian home educators' UK site
> comparative views of Jesus - what other religions say lined up with God's Word
> winning local church websites in national competition

> Events: More of what's on near you

> Webwatch Index: more than 500 sites at your fingertips
> Site Search Engine: the easy way to trawl our 500-page plus archives

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