How to Keep Your Children Safe, Both in the Real World and Online

On-Demand Class · Child Safety

Child abuse is a sensitive topic. One of the most challenging aspects of being a parent is preparing your child for the potential challenges that exist in the world.

Class Description

Our Safe4Kids Parents' Information course videos will equip you to: Identify the benefits of child abuse prevention education Communicate to your child the importance of Consent and recognising 'Safe Touches' and 'Unsafe Touches' Help your child to recognise their body's 'Early Warning Signs.' Enable your child to set up a 'Safety Team' of five trusted adults Communicate to your children the importance of persisting in 'Telling' if they feel unsafe Instruct your children on the correct anatomical names for their Private Body Parts Engage your children in a discussion about the impact of pornography Explain to your children that they can say 'NO' to anyone if they feel unsafe Explain to your child the difference between 'Safe' and 'Unsafe' secrets Appropriately respond to a child's disclosure of abuse BONUS: This course includes a free PDF version of our Parents' Guide to Child Protection Education

Sessions Overview

  1. Welcome to the Parents' Information Course: Welcome to the Parents' Information Course
  2. It's a sensitive issue: The statistics on child abuse, and in particular child sexual abuse, are profoundly disturbing. Up to 30 percent of children experience some form of childhood sexual abuse and between five and 10 percent experience severe abuse (Ogloff, Cutajar, Mann & Mullen, 2012).
  3. Benefits of teaching abuse prevention education to children.: Benefits of teaching abuse prevention education to children to help you keep your children safe from abuse.
  4. Theme 1 "We all have the right to feel safe all of the time".: We break down the First Life Rule, so the children understand what it means. It is important that children understand they have the right to feel safe. It is equally important that they understand they have a responsibility not to make other people (especially their peers) feel unsafe.
  5. Teaching children the names of their feelings, touches and consent.: It is important that children learn to name their feelings. We use the terms “Safe” and “Unsafe” touches rather than good and bad. Children relate “bad” with getting into trouble, and the last thing we want is for children not to report “Unsafe” touches because they believe they will get into troub…
  6. Why our kids need to 'Risk on Purpose'.: Children need to be encouraged to be adventurous, in a positive and informed way. They need to be able to make safe choices when adults aren’t around to protect them. Some children may feel safe doing a certain activity, while other children may feel unsafe doing the same activity.
  7. How to teach your child to recognize their bodies 'Early Warning Signs'.: Early Warning Signs are our body's way of telling us that we feel unsafe. They are our "fight, flight, freeze and faint" response. They are also known as our intuition, instinct, sixth sense, hunch premonition, sneaking suspicion, gut instinct or "gut feelings".
  8. Why children need to know the difference between 'Telling' and 'Dobbing'.: Once children understand what their Early Warning Signs are, it is an opportune time to teach them the difference between Dobbing and Telling. Explain that when you are Dobbing, grassing or snitching, you are trying to get someone into trouble. Telling on the other is when you feel unsafe.
  9. Theme 2 - 'We can talk with someone about anything' and always listen to your child: The Second Life Rule, “We can talk with someone about anything”.
  10. How to help your child setup a 'Safety Team' of five trusted adults.: It is extremely important for children to understand that if they have their Early Warning Signs and feel unsafe, they can talk with a member of their Safety Team. A Safety Team member needs to be an adult (over 18 years of age).
  11. The importance of the Kids Helpline.: Check to see if you have a Kids Helpline in your area. Discuss the role of the Kids Helpline once you have established how it works in you area.
  12. Why children need to know the role of Police is to help keep us safe.: It is important to discuss the role of the police. Children’s life experiences, and misinformation from friends and even family, mean that many of them fear the police. Make sure they understand that it is the job of the police to keep us safe.
  13. The importance of children to persist in 'Telling' if they feel unsafe.: This week children will learn the importance of persisting when seeking help and understand why being persistent is an essential life skill. A child may not be believed or still have their Early Warning Signs after telling their story to an adult or someone on their Safety Team.
  14. Why children need to know the correct anatomical names of their 'Private Body Parts'.: Teaching Public and Private as a whole concept, rather than just focusing on private body parts, makes the subject a lot less embarrassing. Teaching children about public and private rooms, body functions, behaviours, language, clothing then finally body parts.
  15. How to talk to your children about pornography.: Many children are exposed to various levels of pornography, even from a very early age. Studies have shown that exposure to pornography may affect a child's emotional and cognitive development.
  16. Cyber awareness.: Empower yourself and download my Cyber Agreement.
  17. Why children need to know they can say 'NO' to anyone!: Children need to be taught that if they feel unsafe or have their Early Warning Signs, it is okay to say “No” to anyone, especially if someone tries to touch their private body parts. It is also okay to break the rules of politeness and expected behaviour.
  18. Teach your child the 'Three Safety Questions'.: Three Safety Questions is to encourage your children to ask these questions of themselves before doing an activity which may be unsafe, Risking on Purpose or going with someone whom they may or may not know. They need to answer Yes to all three safety questions.
  19. The difference between 'Safe' secrets and 'Unsafe' secrets: “Safe” secrets are only kept for a short time and will make someone happy when the secret is revealed. “Unsafe” secrets will make a child feel unsafe, confused or uncomfortable; they may have their Early Warning Signs.
  20. Receiving a disclosure about child abuse from a child: To help you stay calm and in control, try and remember the following four things you need to tell the child: • ‘I’m glad you told me.’ • ‘I believe you.’ • ‘It is not your fault.’ • ‘I’m going to do something about it.’ Reassure the child that it is not their fault and they haven’t done anything wr…
  21. Conclusion: I hope you have enjoyed my course, if you have please recommend it to your friends. Warm regards Holly-ann

Your Instructor

Holly-ann Martin

Holly-ann Martin is founder and managing director of Safe4Kids, with over 35 years' experience in teaching child abuse prevention education. Holly has presented the thought-provoking Safe4Kids program at over 30 conferences to audiences across the globe, from the United Kingdom and the United States of America to every state and territory of Australia; in Cambodia, Indonesia, Mexico and Qatar. With a passion for education and child abuse prevention, Holly-ann has empowered children throughout the world, and equipped parents with the tools to help prevent abuse against children, whether this abuse is through physical harm, cyber bullying or inappropriate content available through the Internet.

Degrees and Certifications

Holly-ann has been teaching Protective Education for over 35 years. Each year, Holly-ann provides face-to-face teaching and training to 4,500 children, 1,000 teachers and 1,000 parents, carers and educators.

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