We are learning
about Protective Behaviours
Protective Behaviours is a safety program recognised and
used across all states in Australia by many organisations and departments (e.g.
Health, Education, Police). In Term 1 at Sacred Heart, Hilary, our School Social Worker, has been delivering a wonderful program to our Years 1, 2 and 3 students with regards to how students can keep safe. Next term she will deliver this program to our Years 4,5 and 6 students. Below is an outline of the important themes of this program. It is hoped that parents will continue this important learning at home and also help develop the language introduced at school.
The first theme is:
WE ALL HAVE THE RIGHT
TO FEEL SAFE ALL OF THE TIME
We will discuss what a right is and learn about the
responsibility we have to behave in a way that does not make others feel unsafe
.
We will consider the words safe and unsafe and learn about
Early Warning Signs (the way our bodies let us know something is ok or not ok).
e.g. When scared, we may get goose
bumps, shiver, feel hot or cold, get a sick feeling in our tummy.
Early Warning Signs may differ from person to person. There is no right and wrong but it is
important for students to recognise what they are feeling. They need to know the names of emotions so
that they can express their feelings. We
will encourage students to use their words instead of making unsafe choices
with their actions.
We will learn about ‘’yes’’ feelings and “no” feelings and
how to trust instincts. They will
consider the difference between feeling safe and being safe.
To do this the students will listen to stories, play games,
use circle time to talk together and engage in small group activities. This session will be followed up by the class
teacher day to day at school.
HANDY HINTS FOR HOME
A child might feel unsafe about getting into trouble. Discuss the difference between getting into
trouble for doing something wrong and feeling unsafe, scared or hurt. Make sure they understand that you may not
like their behaviour sometimes but you still love them.
Road and water safety may be a good starting point for
discussing safety.
Use the word “ safe” as part of your family’s everyday
language.
Encourage your child to feel confident about showing their
feelings openly. A child that is told to “Stop crying!”, “Don’t be silly” or
“Don’t be scared” may learn that their feelings don’t matter.
Use teachable moments in everyday life to role model Protective Behaviours. Use “I feel…..” sentences yourself. e.g. “I feel nervous because I have a job
interview today. I have my early warning signs – a churning, sick feeling in my
tummy.”
Talk about the difference between dobbing and telling. Explain that If you are” dobbing” you are
trying to get someone into trouble. If
you are “telling” you will have your Early Warning Signs, you may feel unsafe
and so you must tell someone you trust.
Keep reminding them about their Early Warning Signs when
they are telling you something. Do they feel unsafe or are they just trying to
get that person into trouble?
The second theme is:
WE CAN TALK WITH
SOMEONE ABOUT ANYTHING
We will talk together about this sentence and what it might
mean. “We” means everybody and we will consider who could the “someone” be and
what could the “anything“ be, even if it is unsafe, awful or scary.
We will revise theme 1 –
Early Warning Signs (the way our bodies let us know something is ok or
not ok. “Yes” and “No” feelings. Safe
and Unsafe.
HANDY HINTS
You may like to help your child to identify a network of
trusted adults who will provide support and protect them when needed.
A NETWORK PERSON will:
- LISTEN
- BELIEVE THEM
- BE AVAILABLE AND EASY TO CONTACT
- TAKE ACTION, IF NECESSARY, TO PROTECT THEM AND HELP THEM FEEL SAFE AGAIN.
Include your child in this process rather than simply
telling them who they should choose.
Such people need to be those who your child feels they could
approach and ask for help at the time it is needed.
It is a good idea to let the chosen network person know they
have been chosen as a trusted adult. You could go with your child to the adult
and explain what a network person is – give them the job description and ask
them if they would be happy to be this for your child. Quite often the adult might be flattered,
surprised and honoured by being chosen.
You might like to make a network sheet with your child e.g. get your child to
draw around their own hand, fill in names on the hand as indicated and allow
your child to colour, decorate it as they wish.
Display your child’s Network with names and contact phone
numbers in your home.
You might like to teach your child their address and phone
number, how to use the phone, how to ring 000 and practice answering the phone.
Explain an emergency is when you need help straight away.
You may also like to encourage your child to share good news
with their Network People so that they are comfortable talking with them by the
time and if, they need to ask for help in a difficult situation.
By talking with your child about what is happening in their
life lets them know you will listen to anything even if it is a difficult or
shameful thing. Let them know that even if you do not like what they have done,
you will always be with them to help them manage those feelings with love. If you do this it is much more likely your
child will come to you in those difficult times, rather than trying to deal
with the problem alone. Thank your child for talking with you no matter what
the content of the conversation.
If your child has gone to their Network Person but still has
Early Warning Signs and feels unsafe, encourage them to persist and find
another Network Person. Sometimes adults
can get distracted or busy and not be able to help a child at the time. It is rarely because they do not want to help
and so your child needs to know it is ok to persist until they feel safe. You want to feel confident that your child
knows what they can do to keep themselves safe when you are not around.
I hope you enjoy talking with your child.
HILARY CAMPOS
SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKER
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