Dear Family

As you may be aware the Child Assault Prevention Project (CAP) are working with all of the children in school this week.

 

CAP’s aim is to reduce children’s vulnerability to assault by decreasing fear around issues of safety and by building children’s confidence in an empowering and fun way.

 

Today we worked with your child’s class. We showed some short plays in order to look at ways children can keep Safe, Strong and Free around other children who are acting as bullies, strangers and adults they do know.

 

The children came up with some strategies such as saying “No” and standing up for themselves, getting friends to support them and telling an adult they trust.

 

We also discussed safe and unsafe touches, safe and unsafe secrets.

 

Follow Up Activities

It would be really helpful if you could follow up the CAP workshop at home with your child. Here are some suggestions that may help you do this:

  1. Review strategies for “keeping safe” (standing up for yourself, getting friends to help, and telling a trusted adult). Role-play or act out situations in which they can practise these skills. Focus on what children can do to stay safe.
  2. Talk to your child about their fears concerning their safety, positively and creatively, without ridiculing their feelings or denying reality. It is important to reassure children that not all strangers are bad people.
  3. Problem solve with your child about who would they go to for help if they were lost in a shop or other place.
  4. Talk about all the people who your child sees as trusted adults.
  5. Discuss children’s rights: the right not to be touched in ways they feel is uncomfortable: the right to say “No”: the right to get help: and the right to privacy.
  6. Let your child know that you believe in her/his ability to stay safe and that you want to be there to help.
  7. Make time to listen to and talk with your child on a regular basis. Let them know that their opinions are important.

 

If you would like more information about the CAP Project visit our web site, or ring our office on the number below.