Discussing personal safety with your child for Bravehearts White Balloon Day

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Bravehearts White Balloon day is Australia’s largest and longest running campaign dedicated to preventing child sexual assault and exploitation.

The Grove Academy joins Braveheart annually to do our part to spread awareness and educate children on appropriate interactions amongst themselves adults, and do empower children to step – up when they feel uncomfortable and say “no”.

One of the most important things you can do with your family is to sit down and open up a discussion on how children can stay safe.

Speaking with your child about personal safety should not be a one-off conversation. Rather, create opportunities that allow talking about personal safety to be part of an ongoing dialogue between you and your child. Always let your child know you are there for them and keeping them safe is your number one priority.

• It is recommended that you teach your child the correct language for their private parts. Emphasise that those parts are private and belong to them.
• Try not to scare or alarm your child. Speak calmly and confidently, keeping a neutral, natural tone, ensuring that you allow time for your child to process the information and ask questions. Never make them feel ashamed or embarrassed about talking about or mentioning body parts.

There are 3 rules that are important for children to remember:

• We ALL have the right to feel safe with people!
• It’s OK to say “NO” or “Stop it, I don’t like it” if you feel unsafe or unsure.
• “Nothing is so yucky that you can’t tell someone about it.” Remember to always tell a trusted adult if you do not feel safe.

Trusted adults can be:

• Mum or dad at home
• Trusted close family members
• Your Educator at childcare – trained in child protection and are able to pick up cues and signs of potential concerning traits/behaviours
• Your teacher or principal at school

It is important to mention that Mum and Dad are the most important people they can talk to. It is also important to teach children about consent.

For further information and resources, please visit:

https://whiteballoonday.com.au/home/useful-resources/educational-resources/