Providing life skills, safety skills, and child care training in order to build safer communities.
The role and function of a school counselor has greatly evolved in the 21st century. What was once a career in vocational guidance now is a holistic position that supports instructional and academic goals while also guiding and supporting students through challenging situations. As a vital member of the education team, you have opportunities to facilitate programs in the classroom through afterschool clubs, during the school day in elective blocks, or in summer camps.
Elementary school counselors are integral in educating children to develop good habits both in and out of school. As students reach 4th and 5th grade, they often begin to stay home alone for short periods of time. Safe@Home by Safe Sitter® is an ideal program to offer students to ensure they know how to stay safe when unsupervised.
In this 90-minute program, students learn how to practice safe habits, how to prevent unsafe situations, and what to do when faced with dangers such as power failures or weather emergencies. Students are also introduced to the Safe Sitter® First Aid Chart and learn a system to help them assess and respond to injuries and illnesses. The program is designed to prepare students for their first steps towards independence. You do not need to be a Safe Sitter® Instructor to teach Safe@Home.
Middle school counselors take on a variety of responsibilities to help improve the lives of their students, both in and out of the classroom. Offering Safe Sitter® Essentials allows you to begin career planning with students while also equipping them to watch younger siblings or babysit for family friends.
As your students begin relying on other students for affirmation and acceptance, you have a unique opportunity to help them establish strong decision-making skills. In Safe Sitter® Essentials, students learn to practice safe habits when indoors, outdoors, online, and with others. The child care and first aid sections of the class help equip students to safely care for younger children. Life skills such as screening jobs, discussing fees, and greeting employers prepare students to become the next generation of citizens, workers, and leaders..
Instructor training is required to teach Safe Sitter® Essentials. The training is self-paced and completed online in about four hours. For an in-depth look at the curriculum, check out a sample of our curriculum or read more about each section of the course. Consider adding programs by Safe Sitter® to your school counseling program to further help students access the resources and skills they need for academic and social success.