It’s a grown-up’s job to protect children and make sure they’re free from harm. Help them identify five people who care about them and who they can trust in a time of need — one for each finger on their hand.
Everyone has at least one person who cares about them, and who they care about. Maybe it’s your mom or dad, or maybe it’s your teacher or principal, or maybe it’s your aunt or neighbor.
Let’s think about the word TRUST. What does trust mean?
When you trust someone, it means they never let you down. They are there for you. They always believe you.
Those five people you listed up above? You are someone to these people. If you were ever in trouble, or if something were really wrong, you could tell any of them, and they would help you.
In addition to having people who you trust, you have to trust yourself. It may sound funny, but learning to listen to pay attention to your feelings is an important skill.
When something makes you happy or when something good happens, you want to celebrate and tell the people you love.
When something bad happens, you can tell the people you trust, and they will help you. They can help make the bad things stop.
If someone is hurting you, don’t wait to get help. You deserve to be safe and happy.
When bad things happen, it’s not your fault. Tell someone that you trust what is happening. It’s OK if you tell more than one person. Make sure you’re getting the help you need to make the bad thing stop. It’s OK to even call the police. Your safety matters and you are important.
Even adults have rules they need to follow. If there is a person in your life who makes you feel unsafe or bad, tell one of the adults you trust.
It’s a grown-up’s job to protect children and make sure they’re free from harm. Help them identify five people who care about them and who they can trust in a time of need — one for each finger on their hand.
Adults should offer to comfort children when they are sad or feel pain, and help to make sure whatever is causing the injury doesn’t happen again.
Secrets are bad and adults shouldn’t ever ask a child to keep one. Surprises are good and fun!
Using terms like “penis” and “vulva” just like we say “arm” and “ankle” is important because there’s no shame in any part of our bodies.
Safe touches make children feel loved and comforted. Unsafe touches can be painful and make children feel scared. No one should touch children’s private parts except to keep them clean and healthy.
A trusted adult will listen and help make children safe from harm.
Say, “I believe you” and “Everything will be okay.” You can be the trusted adult that a child counts on.
Police officers and other law enforcement professionals want to make sure all children are safe and protected. To report child abuse, call the number in the box below.
Hugs (with permission), high-fives, pats on the back and saying “I love you” are important for everyone. Children who are confident that they are special to the adults in their life are less vulnerable to grooming tactics from predators.
If you suspect a child has been abused or neglected, call:
1.800.652.1999 (CPS Hotline) or local law enforcement
1.800.362.2178 (DHS Hotline) or local law enforcement
All children are important. Your friends are important. Your brothers, sisters and cousins are important. All children deserve to grow up in a safe, loving, trusting home. You can help your friends be safe, too.
Here are some other places to go for help:
Good Touch Bad Touch by Robert Kahn
My Body is Private by Linda Walvoord Girard
Uncle Willy’s Tickles: A Child’s Right to Say No by Marcie Aboff
Your Body Belongs to You by Cornelia Maude Spelman
Do You Have a Secret? by Jennifer Moore-Mallinos
The Right Touch by Sandy Kleven
My Body! What I Say Goes! By Jayneen Sanders
It’s So Amazing! by Robie H. Harris
An Exceptional Children’s Guide to Touch by McKinley Hunter Manasco
Some Secrets Should Never Be Kept by Jayneen Sanders
Who Has What? by Robie H. Harris
Amazing You! Getting Smart About Your Private Parts by Gail Saltz
No Means No! by Jayneen Sanders
Let’s Talk About Body Boundaries, Consent & Respect by Jayneen Sanders