Leonardo Ramirez's Blog, page 28

Six Days Until Christmas

Hope you're all doing well and that you're either close or done with your Christmas shopping  With only 6 days to Christmas I've only got one item to get for my honey and then I'm done. It's been really tight for us this year and even though my wife and I are both blessed to have jobs we've been in the spot where so many find themselves in now and have had to scrape by so my prayers this year are with those who are anxiously standing by as the bills pile up waiting for that phone call telling them that they're hired. We've been there and remember those days vividly. I took a pay cut to take the job I have now. It's obviously been a tough year for everyone so my hope is that all of us come to appreciate our relationships, our families and the love that we share with those close to us. To help us remember to count our blessings and give the gift of relationship we'll be with the Nashville Rescue Mission on the day after Christmas. My wife and I both share a special place in our hearts for homeless women and children so together with our daughter we'll be celebrating with them.

Update on Stuff

I've been working diligently on the business plan for the publishing entity that we're setting up and I'm getting some much needed help and guidance. I've never created a business plan before so I have to admit the task is a little intimidating and testing of my decision to do it despite everything I had written in my previous post about self-publishing. My problem is that whenever I decide to take on a task I get right to it and keep at it until it's done. That's always been my Achilles' heel. It takes time so once again I'm learning the need for patience. I've got to learn to take my time with this and being the guy shows up five minutes early to the party isn't a help in this matter.  In the plus column, I've always made it a point to surround myself with folks who are smarter than I in a given area and my new friend Al Kirwan certainly fits that bill. He ran his own business for 20 years and I'm grateful for him. Another person who I am very grateful to call my friend is Tim Bowles. If not for him this process would not have even started. He's always been very supportive of my work and gently prompted me in this direction. I've never met anyone who was more gifted in the area of business networking and mindset than Tim. The man knows his stuff. I'll still be honest in saying that I'll be even more grateful when this part of the plan is over!

With that said I'll be checking in periodically but still be working on the business plan. I'll be off starting Wednesday so I'll be spending some much needed downtime with my family. I think we're going to Cracker Barrel on Wednesday morning for pancakes.

Maybe I'll see you there!

Have a wonderful and joyous Christmas and a happy Hanukkah!

Chat soon!Lenny

Leonardo Ramirez is an author of prose fiction and graphic novels in the genres of Young Adult and Children's Books. For more information please visit http://www.leonardoverse.com.

Want to follow this blog? Visit http://leonardoverse.blogspot.comThanks for reading!

The Pitfalls of Busy-ness

As I mentioned in a previous post when my wife and I first got married we were super-busy to the point where we had something scheduled 6 nights a week – not something I would recommend any newly-married couple do. Don't get me wrong, our marriage is still going great and strong but even though for a season we've managed to find some balance in our lives we are now beginning to feel those pains creeping up on us again with our daughter and the pressures that standardized tests add to a family and I'm sure we're not alone.

Here are some things that we as a family always need to remind ourselves.

Kids Won't Always Make Straight A's or B's and that's OK.

We do praise our daughter when she makes good grades and encourage her to study hard but with the pace and pressure that kids are under to perform well in standardized tests she has little/no energy when she gets home to study or do homework for another two hours. Again, we encourage her to do her best but we have to be realistic and acknowledge that grades will fluctuate. With that in mind, we remind her that we are proud of her no matter what. As far as I know there aren't that many dolphin trainers out there that use algebra when they're blowing that whistle. And no, you don't have to have a degree in marine biology to be a dolphin trainer. I checked. That's not to say that you won't ever use it. The key word here is balance. Please don't misunderstand, I'm all for studying hard but we have to live as we work.

Life Was Meant to Be Enjoyed

I still overdo it sometimes. I've got karate 3 times a week, my writing to keep up with and now I'm trying to form a publishing company. Then there's family. No matter what you do you're going to upset someone about stepping back. It shouldn't be your family that takes the hit. I still struggle with this one because I do believe that if you don't work you don't eat and I do want to leave something for my daughter but not at the expense of my relationship with my family.

Speaking of Busy

On a side note, Ronan has been hard at work on the gadgets for the new steampunk children's series, Jupiter Chronicles. He sent me a picture of the unfinished steam rifle which is looking pretty awesome. I'll wait to show it to you when he's done. When the time comes to shoot the cover art, my buddy Poochie Mars will be in charge of that. The process will be a little different to where we'll have two kids dressed in steampunk clothing with Ronan's gadgets and we'll have a photo shoot of them complete with garb. Poochie Mars will then take photos and add some Photoshop magic to the images until we get the look that we want and he'll design the cover from there. 

Should be fun.

Finally, I'll be taking a few days off of blogging (but not more than a week). I've mentioned before that I'd like to start a publishing entity so I need to focus on a business plan for the next few days.

Until then, don't forget to live.

Chat soon,Lenny

Leonardo Ramirez is an author of prose fiction and graphic novels in the genres of Young Adult and Children's Books. For more information please visit http://www.leonardoverse.com.Want to follow this blog? Visit http://leonardoverse.blogspot.comThanks for reading!

Top 10 Things I Would Change if I Had a Time Machine

It's Top 10 Friday!

Welcome to the first edition of Top 10 Friday where topics are kept light and fun (for the most part) so that we can end the week on a happy note. After all, it is Friday…right?

Here we go…

Top 10 Things I Would Change if I Had a Time MachineI would "un-date" every girl I dated before I met my wife.
Made sure Joe Biden got that acceptance letter to mime school or speech therapy.
Come up with Facebook and actually use it for good instead of political positioning.
Call for a limit to the number of rebooted movies produced. Enough already!
Become an activist against fat-free, low calorie, diet and decaf.
Write a collection of children's books about bears eating politicians.
Add term limits to the constitution.
Establish an activist meatarian movement across the street from PETA HQ.
Require members of Congress to live in a homeless shelter for one year prior to service, do missions work for another year and live in a hut while they serve as they abide by the same rules they impose.
I would not have walked in front of that steel swing. That set off a chain reaction, I think.




Got some of your own? Feel free to share! Hope you have a great  and safe weekend!

Chat soon,Lenny

Leonardo Ramirez is an author of prose fiction and graphic novels in the genres of Young Adult and Children's Books. For more information please visit http://www.leonardoverse.com.Want to follow this blog? Visit http://leonardoverse.blogspot.comThanks for reading!

Where has the Magic of Hollywood Creativity Gone?

I recently visited a group of talented writers in the Living WritersCollective and shared some of the character development techniques I used. After the presentation, I got to chat with a few of them and after perusing some of their blogs there is clearly talent there. In fact, I haven't done a show or presentation where someone has not walked up to me afterwards and shared some of their work with me which I love to see.

So if there is ample talent out there why then the obsession with reboots from Hollywood? Granted there have been a few that I've enjoyed (Star Trek, Battlestar Galactica, Batman Begins) but it really seems like the Hollywood spark is either gone or needs to be reinvented somehow.

Hmmm, reinvented. I like the sound of that.

With that said, here is a list of more reboots coming to a theater near you.

Flight of the Navigatorhttp://www.slashfilm.com/disney-to-remake-flight-of-the-navigator/

Poltergeisthttp://www.mania.com/producer-talks-poltergeist-old-boy_article_131670.html

Heavy Metal (although I've enjoyed Robert Rodriguez' work)http://kzok.radio.com/2011/07/25/robert-rodriguez-to-direct-new-heavy-metal-movie/

Highlanderhttp://www.beyondhollywood.com/category/highlander-remake-2010-movie/

National Lampoon's Vacation (this is more of a "next generation" type movie)http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=25995

Short Circuit http://www.filmjunk.com/2011/08/05/short-circuit-remake-gets-a-new-director/

I hear there's even something in the works for "Gilligan's Island". 

Really?

Chat soon!Lenny

Leonardo Ramirez is an author of prose fiction and graphic novels in the genres of Young Adult and Children's Books. For more information please visit http://www.leonardoverse.com.Want to follow this blog? Visit http://leonardoverse.blogspot.comThanks for reading!

The Myth of Raising Scores in Standardized Tests

It is no secret that the prime example which proponents use in the argument to raise scores via standardized tests is China. Upon the first results of international test scores released that included China (see the article here), the New York Times touted the communist country's "stunning" results that were ahead of the pack.

With this information coming from the New York Times it should be no surprise that these results are seen in a favorable light. What is inexcusable is what the article leaves out which are the mitigating factors that contribute to the high scores. 

Persons who are more than happy to jump on the "American kids are stupid" train also have a predisposition to ignore factors (and too willingly accept whatever the latest craze in education may be) but for those willing to argue against this mindset, here are the "forgotten" facts.

It is Illegal to Have More than One Child in China

What does this mean and what does it have to do with test scores? It means that for every child enrolled in the school system there is at least two or three at home who are denied an education. These kids are sent to work in a labor-oriented vocation (agriculture or manufacturing pirated products) that does not require an education. To use an analogy, I teach martial arts. Teaching in those conditions would be the equivalent of removing all of the students who do not have a black belt and thus lowering the number of students enrolled in the program. The level of skills of those left in the program would skyrocket (since the focus would be on them) and everyone would have a black belt!  Education for a select few.

Too bad for everyone else.

Lack of Creativity

Those privileged enough to enter the educational system in China suffer from a sever lack of creativity and ingenuity according to Yong Zhao, a Michigan State professor born and raised in China. His book, "Catching Up or Leading the Way" rails on America's obsession with standardized testing while 44 percent of Chinese executives are not able to find the talent needed to compete worldwide. Zhao cautions Americans not to "throw out our DNA" in a stunning article that can be found here.

As I alluded in a previous post (here) with respect to this subject, ingenuity and creativity can be found in abundance in America where application is still taught unlike China whose teaching style is reflected in facts and meaningless figures. 

Our goal should not be to train our children to be great test-takers. It should be to think critically and creatively. According to an article in The Globalist (seen here), there is a call for a reforming of the school system….in China. It seems that China is just now beginning to realize that their schools are lacking in creativity and are crying for their schools to become more like America…..free. 

Oh the irony.

With respect to actual unemployment figures, China's true numbers cannot be measured since children who are ousted from the educational system are put into the labor workforce and are not counted into the system. Migrant workers add to the unreliability of figures provided by Labor statistics. There is simply no way to tell how many children are being left out of the chance to obtain an education since according to the law they don't exist.

In reference to the aforementioned difference in teaching style, according to China Insight (here), personal expression is discouraged as is classroom participation. Information is relayed from teacher to student and the student is expected to quietly absorb it. Just the facts! In all fairness, I will say that I do like the emphasis on respect. There is, however, a fine line between respect and censorship of ideas. 

Chinese children spend an average of 8 hours a day in class and their entrance into college is solely based on what score they get on their last assessment exam (talk about pressure!). Children who are exhausted and overly pressured cannot apply what they've learned. Try it sometime.

Here is a list of things invented by "lagging" American children:

The Steam EngineThe LocomotiveThe TelephoneThe AutomobileElectricityPhotographyAqualungBrailleRefrigeratorRadioThe AirplaneRadio AstronomyDefibrillatorPolio VaccineIntegrated CircuitLaserArtificial HeartOptic FiberThe Space ShuttleCellphonesMRIThe InternetThe iPod, iPhone, iPad and now…AppleTV.

Here's a list of things invented in China.

TeaExplosives Paper PrintingGrain StorageHorse Harness

All of these were invented before the end of the 19th century.

Please understand that I do love the Chinese people so I am absolutely not trying to vilify them. When I say I love them I mean it. Because of the inherent desire for freedom that all men and women share (whether realized or not) I'm sure that there are children this very moment working in their fields that are starving for the same opportunities as their firstborn sibling or for that matter, the average American. If only we could appreciate what we have.

My heart goes out to those forgotten children.

What I do take issue with is that the creativity and innovation that is embedded in the DNA of every American child could be subject to a teaching method that results in stifled thought and censorship in expression and innovation. That individualism is suppressed and the freedom to create something that has never been created before be lost in a sea of test scores. That the philosophies of a foreign country would in time come to dominate the mindsets of our children and an "invasion" of our children's hearts and soil would take place right underneath our very noses one step at a time.

We seem to be so eager to surrender and denigrate ourselves, our country and our children when the solution easily lies in the restoration of our families and self-reliance and responsibility, in apprenticeships that teach our young people a good work ethic and in creativity that is permitted to thrive. I personally grow tired of hearing that our children are stupid (or that they're not up to par) and that our teachers need to sacrifice their families so that they can be like the Chinese or Finnish. Teaching is a calling that can only be answered by the truly called. I dare anyone who is not called to teach to do it. You won't last very long and if you do, you're not a very good one and you should be stripped of tenure.



As far as the comparison game goes, I don't know about you but I find great offense in telling my child, "I wish you were more like Coco the Mindless Robot. She makes better grades".  I'd rather just help her with her math homework and tell her she can do better because she is capable of it.



I would tell her there is nothing that she can't accomplish if she works hard.



Chat soon!Lenny

Leonardo Ramirez is an author of prose fiction and graphic novels in the genres of Young Adult and Children's Books. 

For more information please visit http://www.leonardoverse.com.Want to follow this blog? Visit http://leonardoverse.blogspot.comThanks for reading!

Where I've Been (Part Three)

Hi Friends,



Sorry for the lapse between posts but I had a root canal that went bad and the tooth had to be removed (it was very stubborn too!). The procedure took over two hours and was very painful so I'm still recovering from that. I'm sure I'll be back to myself in no time.



On to today's post. If you're new to the blog I've been periodically posting a bio of sorts. There is a point that I'll hit on at the end of the series. There's only more more after this one so please bare with me.



Part One of this series can be found here. Part Two, here.

When I arrived in Houston I found that my mom was not living in the best of conditions. She was in a one-bedroom apartment with very little room for me which is to say that there wasn't a whole lot of disclosure when it came to how things would be when I got there (i.e. she wanted me there). I needed money right away so I nabbed the first job that I came across which was laying pipe for the water company. That's right, I'm proud to say that I was a ditch digger. To this day, I'm not clear on why we didn't use backhoes but I needed the money so I did it. The job was short-lived (it killed my back) so I grabbed the next best thing which was tarp-rigging for an extermination company. Those things are pretty darn heavy especially when you have to climb up a ladder a story or two. I also washed vans for the phone company and played the part of assistant electrician. Don't ever ask me to wire anything. Believe me when I say that I don't know what I'm doing.



After a while I landed at an original art publishing company called Somerset House. I also went back to school  for two years and maintained a 4.0 GPA. That was my home for the next 11 years. I still keep in touch with some of the folks there. I started scribbling words onto paper hear and there around this time and fell instantly in love with the craft.



I got to visit to visit the Treasury Department in Washington DC and get sniffed in private places by a trained German Shepherd. The Smithsonian was amazing. The Vietnam Memorial was stirring to my soul. The highlight for me was visiting the Lincoln Memorial.



On the way to Washington I drove through Nashville, Tennessee and although I was here for only a day there was something about it that gave me a peace.



A friend of mine that worked at Somerset owned a Piper Cub. He took me up once and even let me take the stick for a while. I'll never forget that.









While in Houston I sang with the Houston Masterworks Chorus. There's an arrow pointing to my big noodle towards the left of the center.









I was very involved in the church I was attending at the time. In fact, they had a school of ministry that I enrolled in. The school was set up to not just to educate but to spiritually develop those enrolled. That is to say that you didn't have to have the goal of becoming a minister at a church or anything like that. And as odd as this may sound it was very grueling. The lessons were not just in Bible scripture or theology. The intense course of study there was humility. Mission trips to Mexico, scrubbing toilets and serving others was the medium and if you "survived" you were actually ordained by the church and state if you wished to go on to a seminary. I also got to lead the folks we visited in song which was fun.



Those who know me are saying to themselves this very second, "Really? You were ordained? No way!" Yup. It's something that you have to keep up (which I didn't) so please don't ask me to perform any wedding ceremonies for your cocker spaniel. The only reason I didn't stay current with my licensing is because I don't feel the need to. I didn't do it to go on to seminary. I simply wanted the experience of having done all the things that the school does. I think that in part, it was my way of proving to myself that I wasn't as prideful as my father was. I needed to know beyond a shadow of any doubt that I didn't have the pride issues that I saw in him. Besides, I'm enjoying my life as a writer and that's what I'm supposed to do. 

It was there that I also met my beautiful bride, Kristen. She was enrolled in the school as well. She already had a Bachelors in Early Childhood Development and had her own reasons for attending. The first time I saw her I was driving away from the church and I saw her walking to her car (an old beat up bluish-grey Honda Civic). That's when I knew she was mine.

I'm getting closer to that happy ending.

Leonardo Ramirez is an author of prose fiction and graphic novels in the genres of Young Adult and Children's Books. For more information please visit http://www.leonardoverse.com.

Want to follow this blog? Visit http://leonardoverse.blogspot.comThanks for reading!

Tips for Avoiding a Carjacking

I don't usually post twice in one day but in light of the recent carjacking in our area, my sweet wife asked me to put together some safety tips for moms, dads and everyone in general.  As I mentioned before, I'm one of the martial arts instructors at the American Karate Academy so with that, here are some tips that will hopefully keep you safe during the shopping season and beyond. 

Please visit Safety Tips for Kids for the Holidays  here as a precursor to this post.

Before You Park

Be sure to park in a well-lit area. Look for cameras on posts nearby if there are any. Try to find a lamp post to park next to.

Take an Inventory of Your Surroundings

If you're walking to your car focus on scanning the area before you even start walking. Keep your head up and make eye contact with the people you come across! Take a roundabout path to your vehicle and make sure that there is no one lurking between cards or behind. If you see someone close to your car who is taking too long to get into theirs, wait for them to leave before you set out or ask someone to escort you to your car. Never be afraid of being an encumbrance to store personnel. I'm sure your family will greatly appreciate it. Before you leave the building, pull out your keys (I keep a large metal ring on mine) and do not stand by your car door while digging for keys. Once you're in, lock the doors! That should be the first thing you do before you even set down that mocha latte!

If by Chance the Carjacker Does Reach You

Do everything in your power to not get into the car because once you're in you are in his hands. If it is clear that the assailant does not have a gun then you have the advantage. Throw your purse or bags in a direction away from your car. If he wants money then you've just thrown him the bait that he will hopefully chase after it and leave the area. If that doesn't work and he's still after you, while you are screaming take your keys and ram them directly into the assailants eyes or ears. As mentioned in my previous post, the groin is a good target. Also, do not allow the assailant to get you on the ground. That is the last place you want to be! Kick, scream and poke until he gets the message. 

Remember that steaming hot mocha latte? Use it! 

Above All, Be Prepared to Flee

In the heat of the moment it's easy to forget that we have the option of running. Figuring out a way to escape should be your first objective. Run to the nearest public place and find help. Leave your bags, car, purse and all of your belongings and put as much distance between you and your attacker as possible. Don't talk or argue with the assailant. Simply leave!

These are tips that will hopefully pre-empt a carjacking but are in no way fireproof. There are plenty of resources on the internet. I suggest you cross reference those and gather as much information as possible on the subject.  Finally, the best prevention is to be aware of your surroundings at all times and have a plan to find safety and leave everything behind should something occur.

Be safe.

Chat soon!Lenny

Leonardo Ramirez is an author or prose fiction and graphic novels in the genres of Young Adult and Children's Books. For more information please visit http://www.leonardoverse.com.Want to follow this blog? Visit http://leonardoverse.blogspot.comThanks for reading!

Five Reasons Why You Should Self-Publish

So you've written an amazing manuscript that you've poured your heart and soul into. Working on it has cost you time away from family, friends and the midnight showing of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II. Well, that movie premiered six months ago and the polished manuscript is still sitting on your hard drive in the same folder marked "bills to be paid". Why not shoot for the dream of getting your work out there now? With traditional publishers strapped for cash and becoming even more exclusive about who they carry (even authors they have published previously are jockeying for position) there is no better time than now to start your enterprise and be your own boss.

Need some reasons to send you over the hump? Here you go.

Control over the Finished Look and Contents of your Book

When Haven the graphic novel was being edited, I was asked to start from scratch because of the layout. The way I had it set up initially was by having the reader dive right into the action and relay her origin story as we moved through the scenes. Don't get me wrong, I'm very grateful for the opportunity to have been published traditionally but I can't help but wonder how things would have turned out if it had been edited differently. In addition the editor was changed mid-development and with that change there was no chance of him getting to know the essence of the characters because of the tight schedule we were on.  I have to clarify that I'm not bitter or upset about any of this. To the contrary, I learned a great deal from that experience. These are just things that happen when you're with a traditional publisher so you have to expect it to some degree. When you have control of your book, you are paying for a level of editing that your manuscript needs (and it will need it). All manuscripts should and must be rigorously edited but in the long run…

No one cares more about your characters than you.

Lightning Source

Lightning Source is a godsend. Once your manuscript is ready for print (after you've done all the edits and designed an eye-catching cover) you simply upload to them and they assign an ISBN and make it available through Ingram in paperback, hardback and color. If you've not heard of them you can check out their website here. There are too many e-book formatting services out there to list here but trust me, they are easy to find.

You Get More of the Profit

Whether or not you decide to go with a traditional publisher you're going to have to market your book yourself. It's all up to you and no one is going to do it for you. This means building your readership via blog or social media prior to release. This means waiting until everyone is in bed (if you have kids) and staying up late at night getting to know your readers. Why not retain more of the profit from your blood, sweat and tears? You're going to have to do the work either way! Besides, readers like to hear from the writers anyway, not a go-between.

Retain Your Rights

This one is a no-brainer. Sure a publisher has an "agent" that will pitch your ideas to the production companies/studios but if you take the time to build a website that is easy to navigate that includes your contact information they'll know where to find you. And if you're exploiting every possible means to get your book out there someone/somewhere will find you who will lead you to someone else. I got my first publishing contract through a friend that I met on MySpace. With prolific social platforms like LinkedIn and Facebook the sky is the limit as to who you may connect with in the future. Right now I'm connected with a guy who works for DC Comics and is setting up a website where game developers and studio professionals can go view our work. When your work goes through a publisher to the studio it goes in a package (this is the case in some publishing houses, not all) in the midst of every other writer's book.

It's Not What It Used to Be

You might be thinking, "Lenny, you've already been published traditionally. Let me have the same chance/experience." If you are thinking that then you are correct in feeling that way. There is certain giddiness about getting that contract signed and getting that box of freshly printed books in the mail from your publisher. I'm also saying that mindsets are changing and that given everything outlined above there is no reason why you can't finally achieve that dream instead of waiting months for someone to read your awesome manuscript. The more of you that are out there the more minds will shift and who knows, traditional publishers may soon be competing for your attention. I am in the process of creating a brand under the name Leonardoverse and will be publishing Jupiter Chronicles, Haven of Dante and Fables of Pangaea and a slew of other properties through that entity. There's no reason why you can't give it a shot.

Hope to see you out there!

Chat soon!

Lenny

Leonardo Ramirez is an author or prose fiction and graphic novels in the genres of Young Adult and Children's Books. For more information please visit http://www.leonardoverse.com.Want to follow this blog? Visit http://leonardoverse.blogspot.comThanks for reading!

If You Could Sit and Chat with One Celebrity in Your Field Who Would It Be?

I think that for where I am in my writing career I would have to say George Lucas. I know that may sound a little cheesy but hear me out. And don't get me wrong, I'm not interested in becoming a director. I enjoy writing too much and would prefer to leave that to the folks who know what they're doing but I would love to have and operate something very much like Skywalker Ranch for all of my properties. I'd strive to make it an amazingly fun place to work hard and play hard. I'd hire people whose company I enjoy and have fun working with every day. It would never be a place where I dictate every little minute detail but where everyone's talents are developed to their fullest and more importantly, they have fun doing it. As long as they're happy, I'm happy. If there's no fun then there's no joy in your work. SR was in fact, inspiration for the name www.leonardoverse.com which is what I intend to use for branding purposes.

There would indeed be plenty of work to keep us busy. Haven of Dante alone is set up to have multiple spinoffs and/or backstories that can be told in multiple mediums. Then there's JupiterChronicles which is the Steampunk Children's series that we're starting up and one project that I haven't talked about much called Fables of Pangaea. Again, that property is set up for years of storytelling. Probably more than I'll be able to tell in my lifetime.

I wouldn't ask him a thing about whether or not there will really be a live-action series based on the years of Empire rule. Instead I'd ask him about his business practices from negotiating book deals with publishers to licensing deals to day-to-day operations on the ranch. I realize that I've got a long way to go before my properties achieve anywhere near the popularity of Star Wars but a guy can dream, right?

Oh and by the way, there would absolutely need to be a fancy coffee machine at Leonardoverse. Only the best for my friends.

Chat soon!

Lenny

Leonardo Ramirez is an author or prose fiction and graphic novels in the genres of Young Adult and Children's Books. For more information please visit http://www.leonardoverse.com.Want to follow this blog? Visit http://leonardoverse.blogspot.comThanks for reading!

Safety Tips for Kids for the Holidays

Hi All!

As a martial arts instructor, I enjoy sharing with kids how to protect themselves not just from bullies on a playground but from strangers in a public place. With the holiday shopping season it's easy to get lost in a department store or your local Wal-Mart even so with that in mind here are some things you can share with your child (and some for Mom and Dad) that are simple enough for them to remember.

Make a plan before going to a public place. If they get lost, then decide on a meeting place. Separately, I always tell adults that the first thing they should look for when they enter a public place is for all of the exits or a way to escape should there be a fire or other emergency.
If they are lost in a public place, tell them to go to a worker in uniform who is standing behind a counter.
For older kids (parents use discretion): If an adult asks them for the time (and they happen to be wearing a watch) tell them to not look down at their watch. Have them raise their wrist to eye level and maintain eye contact.  This is a good tip for adults as well. Be aware that no child is obligated to tell an adult what time it is.  It is perfectly fine for kids (of any age) to simply tell the adult that they do not know what time it is and walk away. They should feel guilty for doing that.
If an adult asks you to help him/her find something of theirs that they've lost, run away to the nearest store clerk!
When a parent is not around a child should never take anything from an adult and they should not feel bad about not accepting it. Just to clarify, this is in reference to public places.
Heaven forbid there is an actual attempted kidnapping but if there is the first thing a child should do if someone grabs them is scream at the top of their lungs (practice this) "Help, this is not my Mom!" or "Help this is not my Dad!" and above all don't stop screaming! Again, please practice this because you'd be surprised as to how uncomfortable kids can feel about screaming that even if they are rowdy during playtime! Then squirm like crazy until they are free. Kids are great at squirming.




Hope this helps and that you never have to use them!

Chat soon!

Lenny

Leonardo Ramirez is an author or prose fiction and graphic novels in the genres of Young Adult and Children's Books. He is also a martial arts instructor.  

For more information please visit http://www.leonardoverse.com.Want to follow this blog? Visit http://leonardoverse.blogspot.comThanks for reading!
Leonardo Ramirez is an author of prose fiction and graphic novels. For more information please visit http://www.leonardoverse.com.