“The most important thing for a child is to feel safe and secure. If that has been taken away from the child, it is up to the parents and adults to bring them back to being children again,” UNICEF
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Every kid has the basic need to be loved and protected, to feel safe and to be able to enjoy childhood. Adults need to try their best to ensure that the children are happy and healthy through positive messages about themselves. Adults also need to help children to manage how they feel and express their feelings when they want to: love and support is what is going to help children the most. The only challenge would be: who to call and where to go. |
We must help the kid to think about the people he/she trust and feel safe around them. These people could be their: mum, dad, caregiver, adult friend, adult neighbor, grandma, grandad, teacher, auntie or uncle, or an older brother or sister.
It is also very important to tell the kids that they should always contact more than one safe adult in case they don't feel safe and how to ask for help if they need to.
Then help them to think about other people who he/she may not know, because they are not a family member, but you think he/she can be a Safe Adult because of the job that they do. They may be: policemen or policewomen, the welfare coordinator at school, the minister or leader of the church, temple or synagogue, his/hers parents' friends, his/ her friends' parents, a doctor, etc.
It is also very important to tell the kids that they should always contact more than one safe adult in case they don't feel safe and how to ask for help if they need to.
Then help them to think about other people who he/she may not know, because they are not a family member, but you think he/she can be a Safe Adult because of the job that they do. They may be: policemen or policewomen, the welfare coordinator at school, the minister or leader of the church, temple or synagogue, his/hers parents' friends, his/ her friends' parents, a doctor, etc.
What is the Safety Hand?
The Safety Hand helps children to identify the safe adults around them. Children need to know who to call in an emergency, if they feel uncomfortable or if they are in danger. It is recommended that children manage to have at least five adults they can trust in any situation.
How to use the Safety Hand is very simple. It is important that you help your nephew, daughter, granddaughter, etc. to fill out this Safety Hand; the people in it must have the full name and telephone number. It is important to make sure that the child knows the full name of his/her Safe Adult and that you keep their phone numbers in a safe and accessible place. It is ideal for adults to have a copy of the child's safe adult list and show them that it is okay to ask for help when they are uncomfortable or in danger.
The Safety Hand helps children to identify the safe adults around them. Children need to know who to call in an emergency, if they feel uncomfortable or if they are in danger. It is recommended that children manage to have at least five adults they can trust in any situation.
How to use the Safety Hand is very simple. It is important that you help your nephew, daughter, granddaughter, etc. to fill out this Safety Hand; the people in it must have the full name and telephone number. It is important to make sure that the child knows the full name of his/her Safe Adult and that you keep their phone numbers in a safe and accessible place. It is ideal for adults to have a copy of the child's safe adult list and show them that it is okay to ask for help when they are uncomfortable or in danger.
Materials needed:
- Large print of the Safety Hand to explain the activity (must be empty)
- 1 copy of safe hand for each child
- Pens or pencils for children so they can write in their Safety Hand
- Color pencils or crayons in case they want to decorate it
How to do the Safety Hand:
- Explain what the Safety Hand is and why it is important
- Hand out Safety Hands to children
- Fill out the safe hand with children, nephews, grandchildren, etc. Make sure the child knows the names of the 'Safe Adults' he or she has selected and that they carry the contact numbers of these 5 people (The adult who is filling the hand with the child may be one of the 'Safe Adults') .
- Accompany him to ask the 5 adults on his list if they can be part of his 'Safe Adults' network. If they say yes, the child gives them the 'Safe Adult' sticker.
- The adult should also keep a copy of the list with them.
- Teach the child that it is okay to ask for help if he does not feel comfortable and if he feels in danger.
- Large print of the Safety Hand to explain the activity (must be empty)
- 1 copy of safe hand for each child
- Pens or pencils for children so they can write in their Safety Hand
- Color pencils or crayons in case they want to decorate it
How to do the Safety Hand:
- Explain what the Safety Hand is and why it is important
- Hand out Safety Hands to children
- Fill out the safe hand with children, nephews, grandchildren, etc. Make sure the child knows the names of the 'Safe Adults' he or she has selected and that they carry the contact numbers of these 5 people (The adult who is filling the hand with the child may be one of the 'Safe Adults') .
- Accompany him to ask the 5 adults on his list if they can be part of his 'Safe Adults' network. If they say yes, the child gives them the 'Safe Adult' sticker.
- The adult should also keep a copy of the list with them.
- Teach the child that it is okay to ask for help if he does not feel comfortable and if he feels in danger.
To download and print the Safety Hand click on the following buttons:
| safe_hand1.png |
| safe_hand_full_logos.pdf |
To dowload and print the Safe Person stickers click on the following button:
| safe_person.jpg |
*All downloadable materials are property of WHG and are only for personal use.