Situational Awareness Made Easy for Parents and Kids with Gary Quesenberry

Teaching Kids Situational Awareness with Gary Quesenberry

Situational awareness isn't just a skill—it's a critical aspect of personal safety and community well-being. Recently, I had the opportunity to sit down with Gary Quesenberry, a retired federal air marshal, army veteran, and author of multiple books focusing on situational awareness. Gary shared his experiences and insights on why situational awareness is crucial and how it can be cultivated from a young age. 

Understanding Situational Awareness

Gary Quesenberry has dedicated years to understanding and teaching situational awareness. As he explains, situational awareness is "your ability, as an individual, to read environmental cues... and then have the skillset you need to get away from that situation before it manifests." It's about spotting potential dangers through subtle clues in our environment—a skill essential to avoiding trouble.

Teaching Children About Safety

One of the most significant aspects of Gary's work is teaching situational awareness to children. He emphasizes non-fear-based methods, stating, "Fear is no way to teach a child." Gary suggests playful, engaging strategies like the classic game "I Spy" to keep their attention on their surroundings. As Gary puts it, “If your child tells you they got a bad feeling about somebody... you need to start looking into it.”

Navigating Modern Threats for Kids

In today’s digital age, Gary also acknowledges the new challenges technology brings, such as cyberbullying. "You don't put your face in your phone; you need to be up and looking around," he advises, highlighting the importance of observing changes in behavior as technology becomes more integrated into our lives.

New Book: Homecoming

While Gary's nonfiction work has been impactful, he's recently ventured into fiction with "Homecoming," a gripping thriller launching on April 1. The protagonist, Case Younger, mirrors some of Gary's real-life experiences, giving readers an engaging narrative colored with authentic safety insights. Through this new, fiction book, Gary continues to teach, subtly weaving lessons of awareness and observation into the storyline. 

As Gary mentions, "Even this is a book of fiction, you're still going to learn how to read people and understand what their intent is based on just reading this fiction book."

Conclusion: Gary Quesenberry

In our conversation, Gary underscored the importance of maintaining open communication with children. By teaching them to trust their intuition, identify baseline behaviors, and communicate their feelings, parents can help their kids navigate both everyday environments and complex social interactions safely.

For further insights and lessons on situational awareness, delve into Gary’s latest book "Homecoming." You can explore more about his work and upcoming projects on his website, and be sure to check out the compelling book trailer that might just hook you in.

Gary's aim is clear: providing practical, approachable strategies for living a safer, more aware life, instilling the idea that everyone can develop the skills necessary to protect themselves and their loved ones. As expressed in his concluding remarks, “Make it fun... open those lines of communication,” Gary's approach is not only practical but foundational to fostering a safer community.

Watch: Gary Quesenberry Interview