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The American Humane Association recently created the "Kids Interacting with Dogs Safely" curriculum to help prevent dog bites in children ages 7 and younger.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the rate of injuries from dog bites is highest for children ages 5 to 9. The American Humane KIDS program aims not to frighten young children but to teach them consideration for dogs' reactions in certain situations—such as a child pulling on a dog's tail.

The KIDS curriculum meets national education standards. It includes games, activities, worksheets, songs, a coloring book, and a live-action DVD. The materials are available for purchase at www.americanhumane.org/store.

Since 2007, the AVMA also has distributed a resource to help prevent dog bites in young children. The Blue Dog Parent Guide and CD, from the Blue Dog Trust in the United Kingdom, targets children ages 3 to 6. The materials combine text with interactive, nonverbal animation. An order form is at www.avma.org/bluedog.

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