NCJ Number
96446
Date Published
1984
Length
132 pages
Annotation
This teacher's guide for a personal safety curriculum designed to give children knowledge and skills that will reduce their vulnerability to abuse provides teaching material, objectives, recommendations for use with different age children, and discussion questions for each lesson.
Abstract
The curriculum is divided into four units: (1) personal safety and decisionmaking, (2) touching, (3) assertiveness, and (4) community support systems. Lesson plans are provided for each unit; each lesson consists of a photograph relevant to the lesson material, lesson objectives, notes to the teacher, a story, and discussion questions. The suggested discussion questions are designed to elicit extensive, rather than 'yes/no,' responses. For example, children are asked what they think personal safety means, who they think is responsible for their safety, and what safety rules they already know. Issues such as taking shortcuts home from school, answering the door, giving personal information to a stranger, being offered money as a bribe, and responding to persons asking directions or requesting assistance in finding a lost pet are addressed. The touch continuum is discussed; attention is directed to specific situations, such as hugging, fighting, sitting on an uncle's lap, going to the doctor, and being exploited. Suggestions for saying 'no' to inappropriate touching are supplied, and instructions are given for countering the persistence, arguments, and manipulation of potential abusers. Resources for advice and help in solving touching problems are identified. General information for the teacher covers the definition of child sexual abuse, its scope, its dynamics, why children do not tell others when they have been sexually abused, and some consequences of child sexual abuse. Information is also provided on determining whether a child has been sexually abused, how to handle a child's disclosure of sexual abuse, reporting such abuse, and facing parents' fears about discussing touching with their children. Appendixes contain a sample introductory letter to parents about the curriculum, a prototype of a promotional brochure, and lists of resources. Five films, a slide presentation, filmstrip, and study cards are included, as are 21 references.