National Child Protection Week

This week is National Child Protection Week running from 4-10 September. The theme for this year is Every Child in Every Community Needs a Fair Go.

National Child Protection Week focuses on the ways that we can all work together to build communities that support children and families.

The National Association for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (NAPCAN) outline the following information and advice:

Children are safest when they are listened to, respected and believed.
All adults can play a part by ‘tuning in’ to children in everyday situations about small worries, then they are much more likely to feel comfortable telling us if something big is wrong.
Regularly talk with children about safety:

Support children to identify trusted adults (both within the family and outside) they can talk to if they are worried, upset, or do not feel safe. Make sure these adults know they are on your child’s list.
Remind children that they can talk to you or a trusted adult about anything, no matter how big or small their worry might be.
Talk to children about how they know when they feel safe or unsafe. Help them to listen to their early warning signs (how their body feels), and to trust their feelings and instincts.
Use everyday activities as opportunities for conversations (e.g. preparing meals and snacks, going for walks, playing, shopping). If children are used to having lots of communication, it can make it easier to talk when big or tricky issues come up.
Be open to talking about all kinds of feelings, including anger, joy, frustration, fear and anxiety. This helps children to develop a ‘feelings vocabulary’.

For more information and resources go to: https://www.napcan.org.au/

National Child Protection Week is a great time to for us all to start conversations with children about feeling safe.

Armstrong Creek School is committed to providing a safe environment for all our students. Further information about our Child Safe Policies will be communicated via Compass to all families next week.