For Parents

Introduction: This material is designed to provide age appropriate lessons on creating a safe
environment for parish and school children and adolescents, K-12. The first article gives some
general guidance on speaking to young people about child abuse. It is followed by objectives and
lesson plans for various grade levels. Please feel free to infuse the lessons into your present
curriculum or create a separate opportunity for discussion. The materials are adapted from the
Archdiocese of Mobile, Children and Adolescents Protection Program, and we gratefully
acknowledge their assistance.
SPEAKING WITH PARISH/SCHOOL YOUNG PEOPLE ABOUT CHILD ABUSE
•Remember in “talking” with young people, seek first to listen and understand
what the young people might be thinking or feeling.
Ask them about their questions, concerns, and issues. Their issues are certainly not all the same as
ours.
Try to understand what young people have heard from the media, teachers, parents, and friends.
So much of what they hear from friends and family can be distorted. Unfortunately, much of the
bad news that they are hearing in the media will be accurate.
Please remember in speaking with groups or individuals that some young people will have abuse in
their background. Always be sensitive to this. Be pastoral. This is an opportunity to express
feelings, fears, confusions, and doubts.
•Before speaking with young people:
Pray. Ask God for the guidance and wisdom you will need.
Take time on your own to honestly assess your thoughts and feelings about child abuse, especially
sexual abuse by adults who are in positions of trust like clergy, principals, teachers, youth
ministers. You may find it helpful to process these thoughts and feeling with a mentor or spiritual
director. It is important to know where you are with the issue.
If you are not comfortable with talking about child /sexual abuse, find someone who is.
•When we speak, be honest. Here are some things you might consider addressing:
Lack of honesty has caused some of our problems. Secrecy may have been intended to spare both
victims and perpetrators from embarrassment, but it has led only to greater harm in most cases. All
professions are made up of human beings. We see both good and bad behaviors in all of the
professions.
The sexual abuse of children is found in the general population, including other churches, in
professions where there are coaches and teachers as well as other youth-serving organizations. Let
young people know that those who are victims of abuse are victims of violence and that one victim
is one too many. When abuse by a member of the clergy or church personnel occurs, victims often
lose trust in authority and church. The church seeks to restore any broken relationship. This is
sometimes difficult. This is the humanness of the Church. It is good to reiterate, the school, the
religious education classes, the youth ministry program are part of the Catholic Church. It is not
healthy to separate “the church” from these other areas. We are all church.
Elementary Safe Environment Curriculum Page 1
Talk to young people about the importance of getting help for their friends (or selves) that are
victims of abuse. Make sure conversation does not lead to “blaming the victim.” It is wrong to say
“he’s 15, he should have known better” or “why did she keep seeing him if he was abusing her ...
it’s her fault too.” The adult is always in the position of power. That should be made clear.
Be clear about child abuse. Lots of things are getting jumbled in the media. It is helpful to give
young people accurate information. Let young people know what is being done in this diocese to
safeguard them. Let them know that there is a diocesan policy about those who sexually abuse a
child and what it says.
Reminders:
Be age appropriate. Talking with Prekindergarten and Kindergarten will be a whole lot different
from talking with middle school six grade students and certainly different from high school
students.
Keep your sense of humor - Help the group to be mindful of the effect of inappropriate jokes that
are inevitable.
Affirm young people for asking their questions, and stating their opinions. Affirm the courage in
victims who have come forward. When appropriate review the principles of “good touch,” “bad
touch.”
The church is larger than the persons in charge of the church. We need to help young people see
that their faith is larger than individuals or specific crises. The church is ultimately the relationship
of our believing community with God across time.
Be a Good Role Model
This would be a good time to highlight things you have done to make the young people feel safe.
They can learn much about an environment of safety from your modeling. They should know from
watching you:
• Adults are always present when there are activities and events for young people.
• Adults purchase or bring for the group’s use things that are appropriate to young people.
• The “Buddy System” of a young person with another young person when away from
campus is a good safety requirement.
• It is not appropriate for an adult to share a bed with young people when on a trip, or for a
young person to sit on an adult’s lap.
• If a young person is uncomfortable with a hug, then we do not hug or ridicule that person.
• You meet with young people in areas that are accessible and visible.
• You carefully select volunteers in consultation with others to ensure the quality of adults
working with your young people.
• It is always a safe practice to have two adults in the area.
These are all things to keep in mind when working with young people in parishes and schools
They are not meant to be a check list of items to be read to students but rather information to assist
the adult leaders to be in an ongoing dialogue with the young people they serve.
Elementary Safe Environment Curriculum Page 2
Archdiocese of Dubuque
Elementary Safe Environment Curriculum
Children and Adolescents Protection Program
Program Learning Objectives
1. I am God’s child.
2. I must receive and give respect in the ways I talk and act and in the ways others treat me.
3. I learn the difference between true friendship and false friendship
4. My body is private and must be respected.
5. I learn the difference between good play and bad play.
6. I learn the difference between good touch and bad touch.
7. Secrets are not good when they separate us from others and harm us.
8. People make good choices and bad choices and I learn how to tell the difference.
9. When someone does something wrong, I must tell someone I trust.
10. I name people to whom I will go for help.
Adapted and developed from information provided by the National Federation for Catholic Youth
Ministry
Elementary Safe Environment Curriculum Page 3
PRESCHOOL - GRADE 1
CHILD PROTECTION TEACHING OBJECTIVES
1. God made me special and others must respect me and I must respect myself.
2. We have families, friends, and a church family to help us grow in love.
3. Safe touch makes a person feel loved and cared for. Unsafe and unwanted touch makes a
person feel uncomfortable and unhappy. Unsafe and unwanted touch must be avoided and
immediately reported to a parent or trusted adult.
4. We show respect for ourselves and others by how we talk and how we act. Each person
must show special respect for the private areas of our bodies. Areas of the body covered by
shirts and shorts are private.
5. Good choices help us be happy and bad choices on our part or on the part of others can
cause great unhappiness. We must make good choices even if others are making bad
choices.
6. Small children, older children, and adults can do things or behave in ways that are wrong.
We avoid and report bad or wrong behaviors to be safe.
7. Secrets are not good and can harm us. We must tell secrets to a trusted adult. Good games
and play are fun for each person. Bad play is not play, it is wrong.
8. We learn to tell good friends from bad friends. Some friends love and help us. Other
friends are not truly friends. Good friends do not ask us to do bad things or things that
harm us.
9. I am surrounded by people who love me and who will help me be safe. My parents and
family members and trusted adults in my life help to keep me safe. If anyone ever harms
me in any way, I will find help.
10. My parents and family members and other trusted adults will listen to me and help me. I
will make a list of three trusted adults I can go to with any problem in addition to my
parents and family members. My parents and I will make this list together.
Elementary Safe Environment Curriculum Page 4
LESSON PLAN
PRESCHOOL - GRADE 1
CHILD PROTECTION CATECHESIS
1. Invite the children to talk about and identify some of the safety signs they see. If you have
any posters or pictures of safety signs (stop signs, etc.) show them to the children and
discuss how each one helps us to be safe. Tell the children that today we will make some
safety signs and a safety sheet to help them keep safe.
2. Using Handout of circles (hand inside circle signs) make a stop and go sign. Either red and
green construction paper can be used or white tag board that the children color red and
green can be used. Glue them on opposite sides of a wooden stick. After the children have
completed the tasks, tell them we will play a safety game. List a number of safety situations
familiar to the children from class or safety rules and have the children hold up “Stop” Sign
or “Go” sign to identify safe or unsafe situations (e.g. ran on playground and knocked
down a student, chasing after a ball into the street, helping a friend carry their books up the
stairs, holding an adult’s hand when crossing a street etc.). Incorporate the safety sign in
your classroom or at home and continue to use it to point out safe and unsafe situations and
actions in the days ahead. (Handout included in forum folder.)
3. Next have the children make the Hand Signs (Handout with hands inside circle). One sign
has a hand with a heart in it. This is the sign for “Good Touch”. The other sign is a circle
with a hand and a line through it like the international traffic symbol for “NO”. This sign is
for “Bad Touch”. Glue the two signs on a wooden stick. Once again play safety game with
examples of good and bad touch (shaking hands with a friend, hitting a classmate, hugging
people we love, biting someone) Be sure to incorporate and continue this instruction in the
days ahead at school and at home. (Handout included in forum folder.)
4. Tell the children we are going to make a safety sheet to keep them safe. Pass out the sheets
to each child. Point out that there are several safety signs on the sheet we would like them
to remember.
5. Remind children about the safety signs we made and help them locate the signs on their
posters. Point out another important sign - “No Secrets”. Secrets can harm us, so we
always tell our parents, a family member, or another trusted adult.
6. Help the children locate the boy and girl figures on the poster. Explain that the parts of the
bodies covered by a bathing suit are private and may not be touched by others (with the
obvious exceptions of hygiene and medical procedures). The children should be
encouraged to color the picture of the child depicted to resemble themselves (hair, skin
color, etc.).
7. There are three lines at the bottom of the sheet. This is homework for their parents. When
they take their sheets home, their family members will choose three trusted adults they can
talk to besides their parents if they ever have a problem. Their parents will print the names
of the other trusted adults on the sheet.
8. Encourage children to display their sheet on the refrigerator to remind them of what to do to
keep safe.
9. Review the list of Teaching Objectives and discuss any other issues mentioned, given the
understanding and maturity level of the students.
Elementary Safe Environment Curriculum Page 5
GRADES 2, 3, and 4
CHILD PROTECTION CATECHESIS
TEACHING OBJECTIVES
1. God created me and I am unique and unrepeatable. Because I am created in God’s image
and likeness, I must give and receive respect.
2. Our families and trusted adults and teachers work together to help us grow.
3. Safe touch makes a person feel loved and cared for. Unsafe or unwanted touch makes a
person feel uncomfortable and unhappy. Unsafe and unwanted touch must be avoided or
immediately reported to a parent or trusted adult.
4. We show respect for ourselves and others by how we talk and how we act and interact.
Inappropriate language, jokes, and actions are not acceptable. The privacy of our bodies
may never be violated by anyone of any age.
5. We identify good and bad choices and determine how they affect us and others. Sometimes
other people make bad choices that affect us, so we must tell and get help.
6. Adults and even children sometimes engage in actions or behaviors that are wrong and
sinful. The harmful consequences of these actions and behaviors can damage our bodies,
our minds, and our spirits. They must be avoided or reported to a trusted adult.
7. Secrets can separate us from others and harms us in many ways.
8. Games and play activities with friends should be fun and enjoyable. Some play and games
can be wrong and very harmful and must be avoided and reported to a trusted adult.
9. We must learn who is a good friend and who is not. When people misuse our friendship by
asking us to do something wrong, they are not friends. It is painful to be mistreated or
misused by someone we think is a friend. We must report any misuse or mistreatment to a
trusted adult.
10. Even though the world is not always a safe place, my parents and other trusted adults will
keep me safe. While there are people who make bad choices and who harm others, there
are good and loving people to help me.
11. My parents and family members and other trusted adults will listen to me and help me. I
will make a list of three trusted adults I can go to with any problem in addition to my
parents and family members. My parents and I will make this list together.
Elementary Safe Environment Curriculum Page 6
LESSON PLAN
GRADES 2, 3, and 4
CHILD PROTECTION CATECHESIS
1. Ask children what they think it means to be safe. What are some of the things we do to be
safe?
2. Talk about what we have heard lately on television about children, abductions, children
being hurt. Talk about how that makes them feel. Ask what are some of the safety rules
their parents have given them. Help the class to realize that these are family safety rules
because our safety and the safety of others in our family are something God wants all of us
to take care of.
3. Ask children why do they think God wants us to make sure that we take care of ourselves
and the others in our family, and our friends, and all of God’s creation? We are gifts from
God. People give us gifts because the love us and want us to be the best persons we can
be. When someone gives us a gift, we take care of it because it is from someone who cares
about us and who we care about. For that reason we keep it safe and use it well and in it the
way it was meant to be used. We are gifts to each another. God wants us to take care of
each other by keeping each other safe and by helping us to do what needs to be done to be
the best we can be.
4. To do what we must do, requires making good choices. The choices we make affect not
only us but other people as well. Talk about how it takes courage to make good choices.
Talk about how sometimes when we make the wrong choice or mistake or someone else
makes a bad choice or mistake we want to keep it a secret.
5. Secrets can be good when we are trying to surprise someone in a good way. When we
keep something secret because we want to hide a mistake or something we have done
wrong it is a bad secret or a mistake or something done wrong by someone else. That is a
bad secret. There should always be someone you can tell a secret to. When something has
been done to you, that hurts you, you have to report it to a trusted adult.
6. There are things we know that will help us to remember to always do our best to keep safe.
Give out the handout. Read through the list of objectives. Talk about these things, one by
one.
7. When you get to the last item on the sheet explain that God wants us to be the best we can
be so he gives us grownups in our lives who love us and help us. Even though the world is
not a safe place, parents and adults you can trust will keep us safe. While there are people
who make bad choices and who harm others, there are good and loving people to help us.
8. Help children to identify these people. Allow the children to color the three little people and
tell them to take home their sheet. They are to talk with their parents to identify three trusted
adults (other than their parents) whom they can go to with a problem.
Elementary Safe Environment Curriculum Page 7
KEEPING SAFE
I am God’s Child
I must receive and give respect in the ways I talk
and act and in the ways others treat me
I learn the difference between true friendship and false friendship
My body is private and must be respected
I learn the difference between good play and bad play
I learn the difference between good touch and bad touch
Secrets are not good. Secrets can separate us
from others and can harm us.
People make good choices and bad choices
and I learn how to tell the difference.
When someone does something wrong,
I must tell someone I trust.
My parents and I name three people I can go to for
help besides my parents:
Elementary Safe Environment Curriculum Page 8
GRADES 5, 6, 7, and 8
CHILD PROTECTION CATECHESIS
TEACHING OBJECTIVES
1. We are all created in the image and likeness of God. My body is the temple of the Holy
Spirit.
2. Our families and trusted adults and teachers share a concern for our safety.
3. We learn to differentiate between safe and unsafe or unwanted touch. We are called to
chastity and we have a responsibility to avoid and immediately report any unwanted or
unsafe touch to a parent or other trusted adult.
4. We show respect for ourselves and others by the way we talk, act, and live. We must
identify respectful and disrespectful language and actions and avoid anyone who fails to
respect us. In particular, the areas of our bodies covered by shirts and shorts are private
and must not be violated.
5. God gives us the gift of free will. All actions have consequences. We must learn how to
discern the implications of the choices we make every day. When we experience the bad
choices of others, we must report the offense and get help.
6. The virtue of chastity helps us understand and identify actions or behaviors which are
wrong or sinful. Children, young adults must avoid actions or experiences or behaviors
which offend against chastity.
7. Secrets can be very harmful to us physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Always,
question secret play, secret games and determine how the secrets can cause great harm.
8. There are many different kinds of friendship. Healthy relationships and friendships can
help us to understand ourselves, God and others. We can meet false friends who mistreat
us or take advantage of our trust and friendship. Poor relationships and false friendships
can deeply harm us psychologically, emotionally, spiritually and even physically. People
who manipulate or misuse our friendship are not friends. We must report any relationships
which can be harmful to us.
9. Good communication with my parents and family members helps keep me safe. I can also
help keep younger siblings and others safe by being observant and concerned.
10. My parents and family and other trusted adults will listen to me and help me. Make a list of
three trusted adults who will listen to me and help me. I will make a list of the three trusted
adults I can go to with any problem in addition to my parents and family members. My
parents and I will make the list together.
Elementary Safe Environment Curriculum Page 9
LESSON PLANS
GRADES 5, 6, 7, and 8
Child Protection Catechesis
1. Ask the students if they are aware of any current news stories or events relating to the
endangerment or abuse of children.
2. Explain that families and schools share a special responsibility for helping keep them safe.
An important part of being safe is to have information and caring support of families and
trusted adults. (You might talk about the Amber Alert System and how communities are a
part of providing safety for children and young people.)
3. Ask students what safety cautions or rules their parents have given them to protect
themselves.
4. Explain to the student that we will read and discuss a “Keeping Safe” handout together to
give them information and safety precautions to be protected.
5. Read through and discuss the “Keeping Safe” handout. Be sure to emphasize
respectfulness throughout the discussion. Also emphasize that healthy friendships and
relationships are not manipulative or exploitive.
6. Encourage the students to continue good and trusting relationships with parents and to learn
to identify other trusted adults in their families or community who can help and support
them.
7. On the last line of the handout is space for the students and their parents to identify and list
three trusted adults other than their parents to whom they may go for help. Their final task
is to complete the handout at home with their parents and put it in a prominent and
accessible place.
Elementary Safe Environment Curriculum Page 10
Name:________________________________________
KEEPING SAFE
• We are all created in the image and likeness of God. My body is the temple of the Holy
Spirit.
• Our families and trusted adults and teachers share concern for our safety.
• We learn to differentiate between safe, unsafe and unwanted touch. We are called to chastity
and we have a responsibility to avoid or immediately report any unwanted or unsafe touch to
a parent or trusted adult.
• We show respect for ourselves and other by how we talk, act and live. We must identify
respectful and disrespectful language and actions and avoid anyone who falls to respect us.
In particular, the areas of our bodies covered by shirt and shorts are private and must not be
violated.
• God gives us the gift of free will. All actions have consequences. We must learn how to
discern the implications of the choices we make every day. When we experience the bad
choices of others, we must report the offense and get help.
• The virtue of chastity helps us understand and Identify actions or behaviors, which are
wrong or sinful. Children, young adults, and adults must avoid actions or experiences or
behaviors which offend against chastity.
• Secrets can be very harmful to us physically, emotionally and spiritually. Always question
secret play, secret games and determine how the secret may cause great harm.
• There are many different kinds of friendship. Healthy relationships and friendships can help
us to understand ourselves, God and others. We often meet false friends who mistreat us or
take advantage of our trust and friendship. Poor relationships and false friendships can
deeply harm us psychologically, emotionally, spiritually and even physically. People who
manipulate or misuse friendship are not friends. We must report any relationship which can
be harmful to us.
• Good communication with parents and family members help keep me safe. I can also help
keep younger siblings and others safe by being observant and concerned.
• My parents and family members and other trusted adults will listen to me and help me. My
parents and I choose three trusted adults I may go to for help:
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________