Tips for Completing a Safety Circle

Although it will require patience and understanding, this activity will empower children to stay safe and confident in themselves and in their interactions with others. While using age-appropriate language the following tips will help children better understand the concept of a safety circle:

• A Safety Circle is a visual tool that helps children identify safe adults they can talk to if they feel worried, scared, confused, or unsafe.
• The list may include parents or other family members, caregivers, neighbours, teachers, coaches, family friends, or parents of the child’s friends.
• The list should include at least one trusted adult outside the child’s family, such as a teacher, coach, neighbour, school counsellor, or family friend.
• Talk with the child about which adults they feel safe with and comfortable talking to. Help them understand that they can reach out to these adults anytime they feel worried, scared, confused, or unsafe.
• Teach children why having a Safety Circle is important. Children should know they have people they can turn to if they are afraid, hurt, uncomfortable, or need help. If one person does not help, they should keep telling another safe adult until someone listens and helps them.
• The number of trusted adults will vary. Five trusted adults would be ideal, but some children may have more and some may have less people they can turn to. The most important thing is that every child has at least one safe adult they can go to for help.
• Help children identify unsafe or uncomfortable situations and what they can do. This includes situations where someone touches them in a way that is unsafe, unwanted, confusing, or uncomfortable — even if the person is someone they know or trust.
• Practise simple scenarios where a child may need to contact someone in their Safety Circle. For example, if they were lost, hurt, afraid, or uncomfortable, who would they go to and how would they ask for help?

Teach Children Body Safety Skills

• which body areas are private
• the correct names for private body parts, using age-appropriate language
• that they can say “no” to unsafe, unwanted, or uncomfortable touch
• that they should tell a safe adult as soon as possible if someone makes them feel scared, confused, uncomfortable, or unsafe
• that if one adult does not help, they should keep telling until someone does

Knowing they have trusted adults who will listen, believe them, and help them can be a life-saving safety skill.

Take your time with this exercise. Use simple language, keep the conversation calm and positive, and remind children that safety is never their responsibility alone. A Safety Circle helps children know who they can turn to for support as they grow and navigate the world around them.