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Did the previous activity? Secret stuff and share stuff
These two activities go together — do them in the same session if you can.

💡 The big idea

A safe grown-up is an adult your child can go to any time they feel confused, scared, or unsure — about something on a screen, or anything else. Knowing who your safe grown-ups are before something feels wrong makes it much easier to ask for help when it matters.

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Safe grown-ups never ask you to keep secrets
from other safe grown-ups.
This is the golden rule. If an adult — online or in person — asks a child to keep something secret from their parents or caregivers, that is a warning sign. Say this to your child plainly and often.
Connection to Secret stuff and share stuff:
Knowing SECRET STUFF from SHARE STUFF only works if your child knows exactly who to go to when they're not sure. These two skills build on each other. "When in doubt — go to your safe grown-up" is the bridge.

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Who can be a safe grown-up?

Safe grown-ups are adults who your child knows and trusts. They do not have to be family members. Even 1 or 2 safe grown-ups is enough.

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Parent or caregiver
The first safe grown-up
👴👵
Grandparent
Family network
🏫
Teacher
At school every day
📚
Librarian
A community safe adult
🏥
School counsellor
Trained to help kids
🏘️
Trusted neighbour
Someone you both know well

A teacher, a librarian, or a school counsellor counts — especially for children with smaller family networks. The list does not need to be long. It needs to be real.

🎮 The activity

This is a conversation activity, not a worksheet. You guide; your child responds out loud.

  1. Ask your child: "Who are your safe grown-ups? Name as many as you can think of." Write them down in the boxes below (or just say them out loud). Even one or two is a great start.
  2. For each person your child names, confirm: "Yes! If something feels wrong, you can always go to [name]. They will help you."
  3. Practise the phrase together. Point to yourself and say: "Try saying: 'I need to talk to a safe grown-up.'" Say it with them. Say it three times.
  4. Ask: "What if you felt scared by something on a screen? What would you do?" The goal: they say your name, or another safe grown-up's name.
  5. Remind them of the golden rule one more time: "Safe grown-ups never ask you to keep something secret from me. If that ever happens — that's when you need to come and tell me right away."

My safe grown-ups:

1
First safe grown-up
2
Second safe grown-up
3
Third safe grown-up (if they have one)

Print this page and fill it in together — or just say the names out loud. Either works.

🗣️ The phrase to practise

"I need to talk to a safe grown-up."
Say this with your child three times. Then ask them to say it alone. It should feel easy and normal — not scary.
Why practise a phrase?
When children are scared or confused, they often freeze. Having a specific, practised phrase gives them something concrete to do — like a fire drill for safety situations. The phrase works for online situations, in-person situations, and anything in between.
🛡️

The Safety Champion Sticker

Give a sticker every time your child practises the phrase, names a safe grown-up unprompted, or comes to you with something that felt wrong or confusing. Each of those moments is exactly what this activity is building toward.

The sticker is for the courage to ask — not for perfect answers.

🌱 Signs it's working

Revisit this activity: As children grow and their social world expands, their list of safe grown-ups may change. Revisit this conversation at the start of each school year — a new teacher, a new counsellor, a new neighbour can all be added.