Safety isn’t one big scary talk — it’s many small, calm ones over time. Here’s how to begin at any age.
Two ground rules that matter most: children should know they will never be in trouble for telling, and that we keep no secrets that make us uncomfortable — surprises are okay, secrets are not.
Elementary
“Who are the grown-ups you can always go to?”
“Your body belongs to you. It’s okay to say no, even to a grown-up.”
“If anything ever feels wrong, you can tell me anything.”
Middle school
“Has anyone online ever asked you to keep a secret?”
“What would you do if a friend was being pressured?”
“Let’s look at your privacy settings together.”
High school
“You look out for the younger kids — what feels off to you?”
“If something happened to a friend, would they know where to turn?”
“You can always call me, no questions, no judgment.”
If a child tells you something
Stay calm. Believe them. Thank them for trusting you.
Don’t promise to keep it secret — promise to keep them safe.
Write down what they said, in their words.
Report it: 911 in an emergency, otherwise the hotlines below.