RULE 1: Tell a Grown-Up

All children deserve to grow up happy & healthy. However, some children will face abuse in their lives. They’ll be hurt or touched on private parts of their body by people they trust. We call these unsafe touches, and they are abuse.

Unsafe touches are scary and confusing because they can seem playful or gentle. For children who experience unsafe touches from a friend or family member, it can be very hard to talk about it.

If you think someone has hurt you or touched you in a way they shouldn’t, you need to tell a grown up. Telling a grown up is the first rule in stopping abuse.

RULE 2: Safe Touch, Unsafe Touch

An unsafe touch is a touch to your private body parts or a touch that hurts. No one should ever ask you to keep an unsafe touch a secret.

• No one can ever touch parts of your body that would be covered by a bathing suit. This is your “private area.”
• People should never touch you in a way that hurts you.
• If someone gives you an unsafe touch, you should tell a safe grown-up right away.

RULE 3: Stranger Safety

Follow these rules to make sure you are always safe around people you don’t know.

• If a stranger asks you to leave with them or go somewhere else, you should get away and tell a grown-up.
• You do not have to do something a stranger tells you to do.
• If a stranger tells you to do something you know you shouldn’t, get away immediately.
• It’s OK to say “no” to a stranger.
• A stranger is most likely to be safe if they are someone official, someone in uniform, a worker or clerk, or another parent with a child or children.
• If you need to ask a stranger for help, you should do it in a public place.

RULE 4: Doesn’t Matter Who it Is

Unsafe touching is never okay, no matter who is doing it. It is wrong for anyone to touch a “private area” of your body, no matter who it is – even if it’s someone in your family, a family friend, or a teacher. If someone gives you an unsafe touch, no matter who it is, you should tell a safe grown-up.

You might be confused if the person who gives you an unsafe touch is:

• Someone you like
• Someone in your family
• A friend
• Someone you thought you could trust

No matter who it is, you must tell someone you trust. After you tell, you and others will be protected.

RULE 5: Shout, Run, Tell

No one should ever touch you on a part of your body that is covered by your bathing suit. If someone tries to, shout “Stop!” or “Don’t touch me!” loudly and clearly. It doesn’t matter who it is or where you are.

If anyone tries to touch your private body parts or wants you to touch their private body parts, shout at them to “Stop!”, Run Away and Tell an Adult you trust.

You can tell your parents, a teacher or another grown up what happened. Don’t be afraid to get as loud as you can. The more people that can hear you the better.

If anyone ever tries to touch your private body parts or wants you to touch their private body parts – Shout, Run, Tell!

RULE 6: Hitting is Wrong

If someone is hurting you, or you think someone is hurting a friend, tell a grown-up. It’s hard to break a promise to a friend, but hitting is wrong. Breaking a promise is the right thing to do if you think someone is being hurt.

If someone hurts you, tell a grown-up even if it’s embarrassing or hard to talk about. Keep telling until someone helps you. If it was someone at home, tell a teacher or a school counselor.