Playing It Safe With Mr. See-More Safety: Let's Rap and Rhyme

Playing It Safe With Mr. See-More Safety™ — Let’s Rap and Rhyme — is the first of a series dedicated to teaching children how to be safety conscious as they leave their parents’ protective arms and begin taking their first steps toward independence.

The poetic style offers children a way to remember important concepts through the use of repetition and rhyme. As children listen to the rhymes, they will begin to refer to them in their everyday lives. The animated character, Mr. See-More Safety, was created to be a friend to children by encouraging them to make safer choices. Although entertainment is key so children will not lose interest, the objective is that these safety messages become firmly established. These messages are filled with vital information that parents often assume children know, but in actuality, may not. By receiving valuable safety instruction at an early age, children will have an opportunity to develop sound habits that will benefit them throughout their lives.

Playing It Safe With Mr. See-More Safety was written for children of all ages. Parents can enjoy the illustrations with very young children and at the same time help them interpret the significance of what is being portrayed. As children begin to read, the rhymes will reinforce the illustrations which they have become familiar with. By carefully discussing each scene with a parent or teacher, children will be helped to identify the kind of situations that could lead to an accident. Consequently, they will be in a much better position to know what to do should they ever be faced with a real life situation.

As children enter each new stage of development, they will have a better understanding of "cause and effect" and the connection between a person's actions and the consequences that could follow. Allowing children to role play scenarios that contain hidden dangers will help them see how easy it is for just the "right" circumstances to lead to disaster. This method fosters active participation in the learning process, thus making the information easier for children to understand and apply. Moreover, sharing the rhymes with older children (ages 6+) will open up an avenue for discussion that could prove to be extremely beneficial. By using this book as a springboard for ongoing dialogue, they will be able to clarify important safety issues in relation to their own lives.

It is our hope that Mr. See-More Safety becomes a role model so children will have a strong desire to emulate him. Mr. See-More Safety's goal is to teach children how to identify serious risks in their environment and find ways to eliminate them where they have the ability to do so. He approaches the topic of safety in a gentle fashion, but due to the seriousness of the subject matter, the illustrations, as well as the text, must send a powerful message and cannot be watered-down. Some of the terminology will be new and may need to be defined, but the words will become automatic as the vocabulary is repeated over and over and understood in context. A glossary has been provided for this purpose.

Although it is true that the earlier children develop sound safety habits, the better...it is never too late. The issue of safety for all ages must continue to be our first priority because our children are our most precious gifts. We hope Mr. See-More Safety becomes a welcome partner in the effort to help children think critically and perceptively, thereby preventing the conditions that so often lead to tragedy. We must make every effort to give our children the tools that will help them to be as safe as possible. So without further delay, let us begin working together to achieve this most important mission!

Janis Rafael is a graduate of the University of Maryland and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in special education. She has done extensive research on safety and believes that the more information we give our children, the safer they will be when they are on their own.