SafeSecureKids.org Launches New Educational Activities

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To help reduce cases of child sexual abuse, SafeSeucreKids.org now features new activities and resources to help kids and caregivers discuss feelings.

Designed for children in grades 3-5, young learners join the character “Heart” on a journey to understand commonly experienced feelings and then create their own printable journal with feelings words they want to learn. Kids also sit around the camp fire with Heart and friends to learn how to identify trusted adults in their life. Along the way, kids earn the pieces needed to make a s’more by helping Heart’s friends decide which trusted adults in their life can help them with a difficult problem. Once young learners know how to identify trusted adults, they then explore how to have a conversation with their trusted adults in another engaging activity.

“Being able to recognize and communicate feelings is a critical part of preventing child sexual abuse,” Karen Baker, CEO of Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape (PCAR.) said. “Helping children understand emotions and encouraging them to talk about how they are feeling will provide kids with the ability to express emotions in their own words.”

Complementary coloring pages also are available for children to help reinforce the learning. Corresponding resource pages are provided for adult caregivers to assist them in the conversations with the children in their lives around these important topics.

“The new learning activities on SafeSecureKids.org help kids have the words to describe conflicted or confusing feelings and make it more likely that they will be able to ask for help,” said PCAR Prevention and Resource Coordinator Jackie Strohm.

SafeSecureKids.org is designed to help parents, teachers and caregivers keep children safe from sexual abuse. The website features helpful resources, videos and interactive learning activities to help adults have important conversations with children about bodies, boundaries and consent.

SafeSecureKids.org, is a joint partnership between Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape (PCAR) and d’Vinci Interactive and is supported in part by The Commonwealth of PA, The Hershey Company, Penn State Health and Highmark. Learn more about supporting this project to keep children safe, happy and free from sexual abuse.

About PCAR:

PCAR works to end sexual violence and advocates for the rights and needs of sexual assault victims. We partner with a network of rape crisis centers to bring help, hope, and healing to people in all of the Commonwealth’s 67 counties. Last year, rape crisis centers provided services to approximately 30,000 victims. Each year, rape crisis centers teach over 300,000 Pennsylvanians how to stop sexual violence in their communities. Over 50,000 professionals are trained by rape crisis centers to enhance the Commonwealth’s systemic responses to victims.