The festive season is a time for joy, celebration and social connection, but it is also a time of distractions, reduced supervision, alcohol consumption and changes in routine.
Over the coming months as you attend community events, family gatherings or go away on holidays, your children will likely spend more time with family, extended family, friends, friends of friends, and total strangers. This period of increased social interactions, distractions and reduced supervision create opportunities for grooming and abuse, on and offline.
Before the chaos and festivities begin, take the time to read these Holiday Body Safety Tips and sit down with your child and a Body Safety Book to re-familiarise yourself on how to stay safe during the holiday season.
ENSURE your child knows their Body Safety Rules.
- They have a Body Boundary and no one has the right to enter it without their consent.
- They can say 'No!' if they don't want to hug or kiss someone, no matter who it is.
- They have a Safety Network of 3 to 5 safe adults who they trust and can go to if they feel uncomfortable or unsafe.
- They know their private parts by the correct names and that no one can touch or look at their private parts or ask them to touch or look at another person's private parts.
- They know about their Early Warning Signs and that they need to tell someone on their Safety Network if they experience any of these feelings.
- They know the difference between secrets and surprises and if anyone asks them to keep a secret, they need to tell someone on their Safety Network.
- If something has made them feel unsafe or uncomfortable they should keep telling people on their Safety Network until they are believed.
RESPECT your children's autonomy, model respect and help enforce their boundaries.
- If your child is not willing to go with certain people or does not wish to hug or kiss them — listen and respect their wishes.
- When greeting people, model the language of consent for your child. Say "Hello Aunty Pearl. Would you like a hug?"
- If you see that your child is uncomfortable with an interaction, step in with confidence and help enforce their boundaries. A simple "It looks like Theo doesn't want a kiss. Maybe he would like a high-five."
- Do not be ashamed or afraid to share that your family practises Body Safety. Informing others not only spreads crucial safety skills and knowledge but also signals to potential predators that your children are empowered and less likely to be kept silent.
Create SAFE ENVIRONMENTS.
- Isolated one-on-one situations can create unsafe situations. During gathering, do your best to limit the opportunities for children to be alone with single adults.
Remember The STATISTICS.
- While the holidays involve increased interactions with strangers, statistics show that the most child sexual abuse perpetrators are known to their victim, be they family, friends or community members.
- You can read more detailed statistics on Child Sexual Abuse here.
Internet CONNECTED GIFTS.
- Make sure you and your children are up-to-speed on digital safety and privacy. Crucially, make sure all children's accounts are set to private, they have secure passwords, location settings on devices are switched off and devices are only used in public spaces.
- For more digital safety tips download our Internet Safety Checklist or get a free copy of Let's Talk About Being Safe Online.
Remember... Body Safety Education is specifically designed to be AGE-APPROPRIATE, FUN & EMPOWERING.
From all the team at Educate2Empower we wish you a safe and happy holidays and a Happy New Year.
