Home Learning - Child Safety

Dear Parents,

By the end of the week all of your children should be familiar with the child protection information we have featured in our blog and that I sent an email about. I have asked all students to discuss the following with you this week or over the holiday. Please do take family time to discuss these important topics so you are both using the same terminology and they feel confident they know the ways to keep them safe. Please do let me know if you have any questions.

Wishing you and your family a safe, happy and healthy winter break!

As a reminder, please have the following conversations with your parents this week or over the break.

1. What are your family's "never - never rules" - rules that you automatically know that you should never do in order to stay safe? 

2. Who are your trusted safe adults - those people your parents would trust to take care of you if they were unable? For example, who might they send to pick you up from school if they were unable?

Do you and your family have a "safe word"? A word that only you and your family know that someone coming to care for you should know so that you feel confident your parent sent that person or you can open the door to them, for example.

3. Memorize your parents' phone numbers so that you can call them in case you ever need to. For example, if you are separated from them and need a store clerk to call them or if you want to make sure of a change of plan they didn't tell you about.

4. Also, tell your parents about these other safety rules and terms:

• What are the 3 R's? Recognize, Refuse, Report. Please explain what these mean. 
•  What is the "always ask first rule"? If you're not sure if something is safe then always ask a safe trusted adult first.
• Personal space - how big is your bubble?
• What are safe touches, unsafe touches, and unwanted touches? What do you do if someone is giving you unsafe or unwanted touches? 
• What is the private body parts rule?

If you or your parents have any questions, please let me know.

Kind regards,

Mrs. Stone

Here are students practicing "refuse" - how to communicate with someone they are making you feel uncomfortable and getting in their personal space bubble. It is important for each student to find his or her own "voice" to let both adults and other children know when they are uncomfortable.