Protecting Gods Children
Grades 3-5 Lesson 1-2
Vocabulary Words
Touching safety—is about empowering children to resist the advances of child abusers and the lures of manipulative, controlling people who would exploit children for their own selfish purposes. “No!” or other words and phrases that mean,
“No!”—a child needs to know that any time someone tries to touch his or her private body parts or tries to get the child to touch the private body parts of the other person, the child should say words that mean “No,” run away, and then should tell the child’s mother or father or another safe adult as soon as possible.
Touching Rules
For example, the rules for your age group could be:
“If someone tries to touch your private body parts, or wants you to touch theirs, you should: Say words that mean “No!” and get away from them as quickly as possible.
You should also tell a safe adult what happened right away—even if or especially if the person told you not to tell or told you that you would get in trouble for telling.
Adults might try to trap or trick a child.
They might:
- Allows children to do things their parents would not allow.
- Give gifts without permission from the child’s parents.
- Asks children to keep secrets from their parents or guardians.
Learning to say No!
I yelled “Stop!” when ___________________.
I couldn’t stop crying when ___________________.
I ran away when ___________________.
I hated it the day that ___________________.
My friend said “No!” when ___________________.
My father said “Stop!” when ___________________.
One day in school, I said “No! because ___________________.
Directions: Discuss the types of touching that make you feel uncomfortable.
Start by making a list:
For example,
- someone punches, kicks, scratches, or pinches you.
- Someone taunts or teases you by saying mean things about you.
- A person you don’t feel comfortable with wants to give you a hug.
- Your aunt wants to kiss you on the mouth.
- The babysitter comes in to the bathroom and offers to help you towel dry after a shower or bath.
- The coach pats you on the buttocks on your way out of the locker room.
Ending Prayer
Sometimes things happen to me that are confusing or frightening. When I am confused or feel scared, help me remember what I have learned today. Help me remember the touching rules so I can protect myself from anyone who might want to hurt me—even if it is someone I like. Thank you for my parents or loved ones and my teachers who are teaching me how to keep myself safe and healthy. Remind me that I am special and that you are always with me.
Amen
Practice at least (5) five different ways of saying “No!
Here are just a few samples to get you started:
- Say, “No! I don’t like that and I don’t want to be touched!”
- Say, “Stop it!” very loudly.
- Say, “Don’t do that!” and run away.
- With hand on hips, yell “No!” Say, “No!” and run away.
Lesson 2
Vocabulary Words
Unsafe friend/unsafe adult/unsafe touch—unsafe friends, unsafe adults, and unsafe touches put a child at risk for emotional, spiritual, and physical harm. These are people who place a child in danger for their own purposes—without concern for the welfare of the child.
Special safe adult—special safe adults—such as a child’s mother, father, doctor, or nurse—are those very few special adults who can see or touch a child’s private body parts, but only to help keep the child clean and healthy, and only when the child is sick or needs help.
Create a Safe Touch Poster
Create a Poem
On line 1 – write the words “safe touch.”
On line 2 – write two words that describe “safe touch.”
On line 3 – write three action words for “safe touch.”
On line 4 – write a short sentence about “safe touch.”
On line 5 – write one word that means the same thing as “safe touch.”
Repeat the process. This time basing the poem on the words “unsafe touch.”
On line 1 – write the words “unsafe touch.”
On line 2 – write two words that describe “unsafe touch.”
On line 3 – write three action words for “unsafe touch.”
On line 4 – write a short sentence about “unsafe touch.”
On line 5 – write one word that means the same thing as “unsafe touch.”
For example: Sample poems might look like the following:
Safe touch, Unsafe touch, Harmless, secure, Dangerous, secret, Laughing, tagging, running, Angry, nervous, uncomfortable, Shaking hands with a safe adult, Touching private body parts, Innocent. Scary. Ask children to share their poems and, as a group, discuss safe and unsafe touches.
Ending Prayer
Even though we are each unique, there are ways that we are alike because you made each of us in your image. Help me to remember to respect myself just as I want others to respect me. Help me to live as you have commanded me to live, and guide me in times of confusion and uncertainty. And, help me to remember, God, that in your loving presence I will always be safe and protected.
Amen