​As a homeschooling mom, I love that Smart Choices is so flexible and customizable, and I really appreciate how the cards allow parents/guardians to be in the driver’s seat to steer conversations.  You get to decide the pace, which cards to introduce to your kids and when, and how deep you want to take the discussion on a particular topic.

With our youngest, for example, we approach Smart Choices as a sort of game. We keep it short and fun so that she doesn’t lose interest.  With our older kids, though, we are able to take a much deeper dive into each topic. The conversations usually go off on multiple tangents and we often end up reviewing practical skills like verbal de-escalation, how to do CPR, how to properly apply a tourniquet, or the when/why/how of using pepper spray. 

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Let me share a little about my adventures with the Smith* family. We planned to meet up so that I could practice working with the cards and children, and that the parents could see and hear their children’s responses, but also to show them as parents how the Smart Choice cards are a great tool for the whole family. They have three boys 4,9 and 15. I choose 6 cards that I felt were important topics, including my favorite…. The telephone Image Card. Other cards we focused on included a firearm card, pill bottle card, swimming pool card, fireworks card, and the driver “drinking” card. With every answer and conversation, I was empowered. Just like in some other families, you could see that they had previously discussed some part of of these subjects. but there were pieces and subjects missing. I watched as the parents faces shifted to show pleasure, concern and sometimes pain in their children’s answers.
 
After we finished, I spent a little time with the parents. The first words out of their mouths were “We have some work to do”. They immediately recognized that over time and with additional children they had stopped having some of the “important” conversations. They could also see the areas and subjects they needed to revisit with the assistance of the Smart Choices Image Cards Helpful Hints on the back as a guide. We have since had discussed creating learning time with parent/teacher coach/guides for their homeschool group.

A picture is worth a thousand words. We hear it all the time. Images are so powerful and our reactions to images are so much stronger and more realistic than our reactions to mere words. As a firearms instructor, images are what lured me to Dahlonega, Georgia in late July. I jumped on the opportunity to take an instructor class called Image Based Decisional Drills taught by Shelley & Brian Hill of The Complete Combatant, LLC.

During a break on the first day of this incredible class, I was discovering the kid’s version, called Smart Choices. As I was skimming through the 84 image cards, my mind was racing with ideas. So many of us are visual learners but in my homeschooling household, multisensory learning is especially important. All three of my grandchildren have different learning abilities and struggles. This was going to be a game changer and I knew it the minute I had Smart Choices in my hands. I couldn’t wait to drive the 6 hours home and dive into my Smart Choices kit to get started.

I’ll admit it. I was very tempted to bypass the adorable purple Arlo The Ant covered stickers, magnet and “Setting You Up For Success” booklet to pull out the 84 image cards and pick the first one for my oldest grandchild to get started. I had to reel in my enthusiasm and make myself slow down to read through the booklet. I’m so glad I did because it really is a guide on the best ways to use this incredibly effective tool.

Choosing the first card was the hardest part for me. Since my oldest grandson is 11, severely dyslexic and has auditory processing disorder, he doesn’t learn as easily unless he gets a multisensory approach to whatever skill we’re asking him to learn. I chose a card with a vibrant palate of colorful vegetables laying on a cutting board with a rather large knife between two halves of an orange bell pepper. Once the card was chosen, I called my grandson into the room and the rest was just magical.

​I showed him the image and used the helpful hints on the back of image card to have a lengthy discussion with a great back and forth conversation that flowed so naturally… all from this image! We talked about safety when working with knives in the kitchen, which knives he was allowed to use when we aren’t with him, what to do in case of an accident, where the Band-Aids were located, when it might be more than a Band-Aid type wound, and so much more. He asked questions. I asked questions. The beauty of this image didn’t stop there. We continued talking while I allowed my grandson to cut the vegetables up for our dinner, showing him the correct way to hold the knife and how not to accidently cut the hand holding the bell peppers. The verbal exchange continued as we made dinner together and sat down at the table to enjoy the meal we had created.

There are images for every age range and a variety of discussions can take place for each of those images based on the needs of your family and your experiences. The possibilities are limitless. I can easily see how these images could be used years apart for the same child and cause different learning experiences each time. The helpful hints on the back of each image help the adults steer the conversation or offer insights into topics we might not think of when we look at that image with our adult eyes.
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On the front of the Smart Choices “Setting You Up For Success” booklet, it states the definition of success as “prepare your child by developing critical thinking & problem solving to help them make smart choices when you are not there”. With each image we share with the kids in our lives, we take a step in the right direction by opening the lines of communication on subjects that can be difficult to discuss without the aid of powerful images to get that ball rolling. 

Dawn Dolpp
Home Schooling/Special Education

I do a fair amount of training to acquire the skills and knowledge to protect my family. Keeping my family safe and healthy is my primary responsibility as a husband and a father. Whether that training is firearms, martial arts, medical, financial or preparedness related, I am always looking for a fun and effective way to learn new skills and increase my knowledge and effectiveness.

I met Brian and Shelley Hill from The Complete Combatant separately in classes I had enrolled in. While their personalities and enthusiasm are the first things that impress you, their philosophy and unique approach to training is what makes them both leaders in their field. The Image Based Decision Drills program is a great contextual and wholistic approach to self-defense training. It’s such a brilliant method. When I found out Shelly was developing the Smart Choices system for helping our children learn about the dangers and difficult decisions around them, I could not wait to see the result. I am also very impressed and inspired by this project. Shelley worked very hard to launch this product and it shows. It is a great reminder for all of us that anyone can develop a good idea into a successful product that can really help people. It just takes tenacity, drive and compassion for your customers.  

​I initially bought a copy of Smart Choices just to support a friend who I admire. It’s a great idea that I believe in, but since my son is only 4, I thought he wouldn’t get much out of it. I anticipated that it would sit on the shelf for a year or two until he was more mature and able to understand some of the cards. I was wrong. I think I often underestimate what my child can learn, and it really showed when we started going through the cards. My son is very curious, and he wants to ask questions and learn about things that he does not understand.

There were a couple things that continually surprise me when we spend time working with the Smart Choices system.

1. The first is that sometimes he does not associate the picture with the topic written on the back of the card, but he very often brings up another topic that we can discuss and learn about. Whether we are discussing the card topic or something else, the casual and conversational nature of Smart Choices lets us branch off and introduce follow-up scenarios.  
2. The second, and my absolute favorite part about Smart Choices, is how it unleashes the incredibly random, comical, and adorable thoughts that germinate inside the mind of a young child. The conversations that emanate from something like a picture of car keys is one that would not have had if we were not spending time together with this wonderful tool. Along with helping me come up with topics that allow me to impart wisdom and decision-making skills with my boy, it lets me have great and sometimes ridiculous discussions that build a solid relationship with my son.

For anyone else with very active children, I would like to share a couple great ways I have found to use this system. Like every other modern parent, I’m guilty of letting my boy zone out with the iPad just to gain a few minutes of silence and bring some peace and calm into my day. Anyone who says they are above that kind of behavior is a liar! I feel guilty about this though, so I do try to limit the screen time. I find that a great place to substitute Smart Choices for the iPad is in the car. It stimulates great conversations with him and when we play as a family it allows my wife to bring up points from a female perspective and from someone who was raised in a large metropolitan environment. I get to drop a little country boy perspective and my boy gets a ton of insight on every situation.

Sometimes just sitting at a table can be a challenge when you are four years old. One way we have found to keep his attention and engagement is to hide a few cards around the house and then have an Easter egg hunt for them. Once we find a card, we talk about it in that location. Changing locations every few minutes and adding some activity adds a new dynamic.

One final benefit that I really appreciate is, as we are gong through the cards it helps me evaluate my environment, plans, and supplies, and systems to keep my family safe and healthy. The conversations we have help me think of things I need to do, that I probably would not have come up with on my own.

​I am incredibly happy and impressed with this entire project. I am a very satisfied end user and as an entrepreneur and business owner I am incredibly impressed and a little jealous that I did not develop this myself. For the small price paid, this is going to pay dividends that I cannot even calculate. Hopefully along with many other factors, these cards can help me with my responsibility of raising a safe, smart, and compassionate young man. A man protecting his family rarely ever involves guns, knives, trauma kits, or chokeholds. We spend a lot of time and money training for something that hopefully will never happen. The real way we protect our children and spouses is by having discussions about the difficult decisions we face every day and give our children opportunities to practice making Smart Choices in a controlled environment with us before they need to make them alone in the real world.
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Chris Weinrebe lives in Phoenix Arizona with his wife Melissa and son Nathan. He is an airline pilot and entrepreneur. He is the Director of Operations at Force Projection LLC, a company that uses dry-fire shooting simulators for mobile training, entertainment, and education. ​

We have been using Smart Choices for about 6-8 months now. I love having a resource that helps with communication prompts between my tween son and I. We start with all cards in its burlap sack. And my son pulls cards out one by one. We do this by hanging out on my bed. This is absolutely a “nonjudgmental time.” It’s simply a time that we can both communicate using Arlo to guide us into creating a safer ending in these different situations.

The first time my son pulled out the tourniquet card, he asked “What’s this?” I went and got our house first aid kit and pulled out our tourniquet. And proceeded to show him, how to use a tourniquet and more importantly why. Every time we cycle thru our cards, I am always listening to how much information he has retained from previous times. BTW, he is almost ready to take a basic first aid course.

As a mom, I/we always talk to our children about “Stranger Danger.” But do you talk about finding a stranger “unconscious?” On the back of Smart Choices Card’s, Arlo has helpful hints to help guide you and your child to discuss various bulleted points for this situation. Would your child feel comfortable shaking the foot of an unconscious stranger? Would you feel comfortable with having your child shaking the foot of an unconscious stranger? As a mom, I would like my child to be safe. And I want him to still take care of a someone in need of help, but from a safe distance. To do this, you have got to have a plan. And Smart Choices give you the opportunity to create a plan.

The other night we were trying to pick our top 4 cards. My son picked out the “Peer Pressure” card.  And I picked the “Safe Word.” As we were discussing a situation that happened over at his friend’s house. I could tell by my son’s body language and his tone; he was not entirely comfortable relaying the conversation. I gently reminded him this was our nonjudgement zone and time. He relayed the conversation, and it really struck a chord with me.  So together we came up with a plan that helps him to have a “out.”  Up till now, in our house, our “safe word” has been used as a spoken term. Now, our safe word can be used in a text message. And If I receive our safe word in a text message, that means my son needs me to pick him up asap. And we wait until we are home, to discuss the situation.

In closing, I am extremely happy that I purchased Smart Choices for my family. They give us an opportunity to communicate and grow our family safety plan. And to create a new family safety plans as we grow. “Thank You to Shelley Hill,” for creating these! They give us a reality check of what our children may or may not encounter in today’s world. And some of these cards are straight up fun to talk about! Thank you so much Shelley and Arlo! We are very excited to see the expansion packs! 

​Bobbi Duck

​When Shelley and Brian first introduced Image Based Decisional Drills and later followed by Smart Choices for kids I was immediately intrigued. In my own training curriculum I use visualization drills to stimulate different types of learning at critical moments in the progression of skills development. These card decks allow for an even greater level of engagement, conversation and depth of learning on the range, in the classroom and at home. I ordered my household's Smart Choices kit online and put it to use as soon as it arrived. These image cards have become a household favorite that facilitate quality family time and lots of learning and laughs. From our family to yours, we know you will love SMART CHOICES, too!
-Tatiana Whitlock and The Whitlock Family
 
“Hey guys! Come join me in the living room. I want to share something fun with you.” I called, attempting to lure my kids away from their devices. Out crawled two groggy pre-teens reluctantly humoring their Mother and slumping down on the couch beside me. “So, I have some pretty awesome friends and they came up with a game for families to play together. I want to introduce you to Arlo.” As predicted they both rolled their eyes, scanned the card deck and stickers laid out on the coffee table, and shared in the sentiment that they were too old for little kid card games. I explained that the stickers were probably for the little kids but this wasn’t necessarily a little kid game. In fact, this “game” has only a few rules and the three of us get to make them. This family activity was about choices and how they would react in different situations. “So it’s like the game, Life?” asked my son. “Exactly!” I replied. “Only better. Let me show you how it works…” They were intrigued, I had their attention, and we dove right in.
 
The Smart Choices card deck provides 84 vibrant photographic image cards which act as conversational prompts. Some images clearly depict danger such as a photo of a snake, while others are more benign such as a cell phone and leave much to creative interpretation. These are an ideal tool for families looking to engage their children in a “What would you do if…” dialogue while avoiding the pointed-finger-parenting of our parents sitcoms. The how-too booklet that accompanied the kit offered a few methods of utilizing the deck and recommended choosing one or two cards per sit-down together. I hoped this experience would get my own kids talking, asking questions and keep them away from their laptops for a few minutes. Spoiler alert - it worked! It worked so well, and in such unpredictable ways, I am an absolute believer in this program.

​These social cards posed the greatest “what if'' questions and we found ourselves lingering in deeper discussions. Each kid shared stories about peer pressure, bullying, and feeling unsure about how to manage interactions with the “tough” kids. Some of these stories I had heard before and others I was surprised to hear for the first time. We had the opportunity to talk each one out and offer strategies to avoid and clear courses of action if faced with similar situations going forward. While this dialogue alone is a major Mom win, the home run was when my daughter stood up and with hands on her hips proclaimed, “Ya know. I’m just going to tell you about everything from now on. I can’t believe I could have just done that one thing and avoided a year of bullying on the bus!”
 
Almost two hours flew by before we packed up the deck and put it with the other favorite family games. “Hey Mom, can we keep those out for later?” “Absolutely!” While Smart Choices isn’t intended to be a traditional “game” that one word took the pressure off for my kids and opened them up to being receptive to engaging and learning. These invaluable conversations within a family while often quite serious in nature can be explored in a relaxed and trust building atmosphere through simple graphic cards. SMART CHOICES is brilliant, dynamic and fun. Gunslinging Mom and pre-teen approved!