Activity Four
(ages 5 - 7)

Key points

Practising key points from activities one to three.

Note: People who abuse children, both those known and unknown to the child, often use tricks or offer a bribe or treat to get a child to do what they want. They may offer the child a ride in their car, pretending that the child's parent or carer has sent them, or that there has been a problem at home. Children need skills to be able to ignore such offers and to refuse bribes or treats. (Keeping Ourselves Safe 1998, p71). Children should be encouraged to tell a trusted adult if they have been told to keep a secret by someone, especially if that secret makes them feel scared, worried or unsafe.

Some parents and carers may choose a 'no secrets' policy at home. If this is too hard, encourage your children to keep only good secrets (for example, about Christmas presents or birthdays). A general rule of thumb could be that the only secrets kept are those that will be shared soon anyway.

Before you begin the activity

This activity contains a series of three short stories designed to practise actions and ideas learnt in earlier activities. The stories contain spaces for words, such as your child's name, trusted adults for the child to approach and various other situations that would be normal for your child to find themselves in. For example, the first story talks about the child walking to _________________. The gaps allow for the parent or carer and the child to write in a typical place for that child to be walking. For example, it may be home from school, to the shops, or to the river. The situation should be appropriate to your child's personal situation and environment.

Read through the stories carefully to ensure that you already know what word should be in each gap. You may wish to cross out 'his/her' as appropriate to your child, prior to reading the stories aloud.

Activity

The gaps in the stories are designed to be completed, wherever possible, by your child. Alternatively, you can write what your child tells you to write, (children may at least be able to write their own name in the appropriate gap). Spaces indicated by an asterix and a line, *_________________, are for the child's name. Each story concludes with a picture drawn by you and your child. This activity may be completed over several days.

When you have finished the activity

Read through the completed stories again. Encourage your child to read as many of the words as they can, especially their name. Request another family member to ask the child's permission to read the stories as well.

Put your completed story sheets on display as agreed between you.