Teaching your Pre-schooler about personal safety

For the past week I have been teaching my Pre-schoolers (3-5 yr olds) about personal safety. We often forget about this age group as they are with us most of the time and tend to keep a closer eye on them but the sooner we teach them about how recognise

I will keep this as simple and as clear as I can:

• Strangers - there can be good strangers and bad strangers : If they feel "yucky" around someone then they need to get away from that person and tell someone they trust. An example of a good stranger could be; a neighbour, the lady or man behind the counter in the shop, a babysitter - as long as they feel comfortable around that person than it's okay.......the minute they start to "feel bad" they need to tell someone they trust.
• Bad people don't always "look bad" they can look like very nice people and have smiles on their faces and want to be your friend. Again they need to think about how they feel when they around people.
• If at the park or out in the front yard and someone comes up to ask they can help them look for their lost puppy, say "No" If someone offers them money of treats to go with them, say "No".
• If someone comes up to them and says Mummy or Daddy said I'm allowed to take you to the shop to buy a toy, say "No".
• No-one is allowed to touch their private parts, sometimes a Doctor will have to but Mum or Dad will always be with them if that happens and that's okay because the Doctor is trying to look after them. But if someone ever does touch them in their private parts then they need to tell someone they trust. PLEASE tell your child the correct names for their private parts, this is because if ever something does happen to them they need to able to say the correct name so that there is NO room for error when prosceuting the perpertrator. They are parts of their body and need to be aware of them without feeling shame.
• Teach your child the power of saying NO. It empowers them to be able to control their feelings and emotions. Even if you are just playing with your children and wrestling or tickling, if they say "No" then STOP. Never underestimate the power of the word NO. It is the one thing we can all say that gives us immediate power.
• Don't make your children give Nan, Pop, Aunty, Uncle, Friend; a kiss hello or goodbye. If your child feels happy to this then fine but forcing them to do something they don't want to can confuse their feelings. I know a lot of people who still insist on doing this as it's a sign of respect but your child needs to be able to trust their instincts. My Nan was a big one for kissing hello and goodbye and got most upset if my boys didn't want to be I've explained to her my views on this and she now understands.
• Teach your children not to answer the door unless you're with them. If you are out the back or some other part of the house, get them to come and get you first. ALWAYS keep the security door locked, for everyone's safety!!!!!

Talk to them about people they can talk to if they need to : Mum, Dad, Nan, Pop, Aunty, Uncle, Child Care Teachers, Police, Ambulance Officers, Shop assistants.

The most important thing for us to remember as parents is that the majority of children who are abused, are abused by someone they know and trust. Talk to them about their feelings and help them to understand that their body belongs to them and they are in control of it.

A great book I read to my Pre-school kid's is called "It's OK to say NO!" Available from the Family Court of Australia.

Amanda xxxxxxx