We Can Keep Safe – protecting young children through education

We Can Keep Safe is a personal safety programme for three- to five-year-olds and their families and caregivers.

Tautoko Mai are proud to partner with and have the support of HELP Auckland to roll out their We Can Keep Safe Programme in Tauranga inititally with long term plans to deliver across the Bay of Plenty and Greater Waikato

The programme teaches parents, caregivers and teachers how to create safe environments, how to support children so they’re less likely to be targeted for sexual abuse, and what to do if they suspect abuse, or a child discloses abuse.

The five We Can Keep Safe children’s modules teach age-appropriate skills using drama, games, songs, role-playing, storytelling and puppetry. Children learn the following personal safety skills in a context of learning about general safety:

  • assertion about the ownership of their bodies
  • simple touching rules for private parts
  • distinguishing secrets and surprises
  • differentiating good feelings from not good or mixed feelings, and 
  • keeping telling until an adult listens if something is not okay. 

Positive benefits of the programme are wide-ranging, including an increase in children discussing their feelings more with their parents and being bullied less. The programme can also be helpful to respond to sexualised behaviour – it helps all the children and teachers to know what is okay and how to respond to a child’s sexualised behaviour.

HELP keep the children in your care safe

  • The We Can Keep Safe programme is a HELP Auckland Programme that Tautoko Mai are currently piloting in the Bay of Plenty.

  • Email us to enquire about organising the We Can Keep Safe programme for your preschool or community group.

  • Download your own copy of the We Can Keep Safe brochure

“We can’t sing the programme’s praises enough – it’s essential for our four-year olds every year. ”
ECE Leader

FAQs

Is 3–5-year-old too early to teach children about safety from sexual abuse?

This is a common question, but the parent session shows how we teach skills to children in fun and age appropriate ways and how they too can communicate easily with their children about personal safety.

How do I arrange for the programme to run in my preschool?

Please let us know you are interested and we will be in touch to discuss the programme and arrange dates. Tautoko Mai only runs this programme in the Tauranga area. Call 0800 227 233 or email [email protected] for further information.

What does the programme teach?

The programme teaches parents, caregivers and teachers how to create safe environments, how to support children so they’re less likely to be targeted for sexual abuse, and what to do if they suspect abuse or a child discloses abuse. It teaches children key skills including assertion about the ownership of their bodies, simple touching rules for private parts, differentiating good feelings from not good or mixed feelings, and the importance of continuing to tell until an adult listens if something is not okay.

How much does cost and how long is the programme?

We ask for donations towards the $2200 cost of the programme, but we can also provide some free of charge due to the generosity of other donors and funders.

The children’s sessions usually run over 5 weeks, with the parent session a week or two prior.

Do parents attend with their children?

Parents or caregivers attend an evening session to learn about the programme and the skills that they need to keep children safe. It is great if parents can attend the day-time sessions with the children, but the programme does include interactive homework to help parents catch-up and have the conversations directly with their child if they are unable to attend the sessions.

Our support partner HELP Auckland has more resources for Keeping Children Safe