All children can learn how to keep themselves safe through protective behaviours techniques. While it’s a caregiver’s responsibility to keep their children safe, it’s also important for them to feel a sense of independence with their own safety.
Teaching children to be safe can be a challenge to navigate for a lot of caregivers. Below are some protective behaviours strategies to support caregivers wanting to teach their children to keep safe.
Protective behaviour strategies
- Help the child identify who they can talk to if they don’t feel safe
- Make sure the child knows what to do if they’re in an unsafe situation
- Children should have their own safe place in the house – a place that’s ‘theirs,’ where they can go to if they’re feeling unsafe
- Make sure your child knows their own address and phone number in case of an emergency
- Make sure the child knows who to call in an emergency (000)
- Discuss with your child some people they can talk with when they’re feeling unsafe. Come up with a list of 3-5 safe people that your child would feel safe talking to
- Frequently remind your child/ren that “nothing is so awful that we can’t talk with someone about it”
- Teach your child that if the first person they talk to doesn’t believe them, then they can (and should) tell someone else
- Try to help your child remember the phone number for Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800). Write it down or give it to them on a card that they can carry around
- Encourage children to stay out of adult fights and to ask for help if fights feel unsafe. Tell them to find an adult who will help them when fights seem unsafe, or to call 000
- Teach them self-protection skills. Help them learn to listen to their early warning signs, and to trust their feelings and instincts. Ask the child what happens in their body when they feel unsafe or get an “uh oh” feeling. These are warning signs they can use to take action
- Teach your children the rules around inappropriate touch and what to do if they are violated
- Teach your child to be assertive. Allow them to say no to hugs and kisses from family members and friends. Encourage them to find a greeting they feel more comfortable with, such as high fives, or handshakes
- Teach children that it’s okay to say no to adults if the adult is asking them to do something that seems unreasonable or unsafe
- Empower children to know that they own their bodies, and they always have the right to say no if they don’t want anybody touching them. Tell them that this is more important than offending someone
- Teach children to leave an uncomfortable situation
- Teach children about inappropriate secrets. For young children, you can frame it as the difference between a “secret” and a “surprise.” A surprise makes you feel good inside, a secret makes you feel bad. If anything makes you feel bad inside, you can always tell someone.
All children have the right to feel safe.
We provide counselling services for children and young people experiencing a range of challenges and issues. If you would like further parenting advice or support for your child, please get in touch with our Family Support Program (Brisbane), Operation Kinder Community (Riverview) or Early Parent Centre (Inala).