Your safety during childhood is extremely important so that you grow to your fullest mental, physical and psychological potential as an adult. This means you need adequate food, shelter, and a loving environment. No one should harm you or abuse you in any way. Your parents have rules that help you be safe though you might not always agree with them.

Drugs are ruining the lives of many kids. Some teenagers worry too much about their weight and starve their bodies. They do terrible harm to themselves because they don't like what they see in the mirror. War exists. You may not be suffering from the ravages of war but kids your age are. Zlata Filipovic, a young girl who lived through war in Bosnia, is just like you. She wrote a diary that has made her famous. On Kidlink's chat network, she came online and talked to us. If we don't take care of our earth we will ruin our safe environment not only for us but for all who come after us.

Discussion Questions

1. Do you have a certain time, set by your parents, when you must be home on weekends? Did you and your parents decide the time together? Does your town have any laws that say when kids should be home at night? Do you think this is a fair rule? Are there different rules for summer and winter?
2. Should parents limit the number of hours that kids watch TV? Do you think TV shows have too much violence? Is this harmful to kids?
3. Are your movies rated or classified for age appropriate audiences? What is the cutoff age when you no longer need to be accompanied by an adult?
4. What is immunization? What vaccinations did you get when you were a baby? Are any required before you enter school? Why do you think some children do not get vaccinated?
5. If someone is causing you pain or making you feel uncomfortable is there anyone you can talk to?
6. Who decides what you eat for lunch at school? Do you buy lunch at school or do you pack a lunch and bring it? Who packs your lunch? Do you think you should pack your own lunch and decide totally what is in it?
7. What are anorexia and bulimia? Search the Web for information. Is the information you found reliable? How do you know?
8. How are anorexia and bulimia ruining the lives of young girls? Do you know any famous people who caused physical harm to themselves or died because of an eating disorder?
9. Do you think some drugs are dangerous to your health? Are some controversial drugs tolerated in parts of the world?
10. Are there lessons in school about harmful drugs? Do you think many kids in your town are hurting themselves by using drugs?
11. How many of you have ever lost a loved one or dear friend because of an accident or illness? Imagine losing loved ones, friends and home because of war.
12. A safe environment for kids to grow up in includes a clean earth. Describe a "clean earth."

Classroom Activities

1. Who looks after you when you are ill? Talk to you parents and make a list of your childhood illnesses and when you had them. Make a booklet about your 'Medical History' and write about how you were taken care of and how you felt when you were sick.
2. Write an essay, "If I Were in Charge of the School..." Post in KidCom.
3. Create a school lunch menu for 2 weeks. What foods would you offer? What restrictions would you suggest (no salt added, low fat content, etc.)?
4. Zlata (10), who lived all throughout a war in Yugoslavia, told her story to Kidlink kids on Kidlink's chat network. Read and discuss her experiences as a class.
5. Decide on your favorite healthy snack. Have a snack day at school and each person in your class bring their favorite snack (and recipe if there is one) to share.

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