KNOW. SEE. RESPOND.
With just a few simple steps, we an protect kids from sexual abuse.

The Madison Area YMCA is participating in the Five Days of Action, October 26-30. The Five Days of Action week is designed to raise awareness and inspire adults to take action to protect children from sexual abuse. 

The Y encourages adults and organizations in the community to play a vital role in making New Jersey a safer place for children, especially in this ever-changing environment. As our communities continue to press pause and participate in social distancing, we know that protecting kids looks different this year. Not only is our community dealing with a pandemic that is separating kids in need from the safe adults in their lives, but there are spikes in domestic violence, cries for social justice for Black lives, and more concerns about the mental health of youth and adults.

Five Days of Action will help communities and parents/caregivers take it One Day at a Time and offer tips, tools, activities and resources that are relevant to the current environment.

When adults know how abuse happens, see the warning signs, and respond quickly to prevent abuse, they foster a culture of child abuse prevention. Together, we can bring awareness to the issue of child sexual abuse in our communities and have important conversations around how we can all work together to prevent it from happening. 

Join us October 26-30 for Five Days of Action!

MONDAY OCTOBER 26 – WHAT IF?

Start by having a conversation with your kids. The “What If?” Game is a great way to think about situations kids may face in life and would need to solve. Head on over to www.fivedaysofaction.org/what-if-game  to see how to get started. 

TUESDAY OCTOBER 27 - KEEPING KIDS SAFE ONLINE

Are your kids spending more time online or in front of a screen? How can you ensure they are staying safe when they’re in virtual environments?

It’s important to set some ground rules and be proactive, just like you would if your children were going to a friend’s house. 

Here are some ideas to get you started:

• If possible, connect with your kids before, during, and after online use – know who they will be with virtually, where they are going virtually, and what they will be doing.
• Discuss how any new scenarios, like virtual school, will affect your current rules around devices, apps, and the internet.
• Click https://www.fivedaysofaction.org/internet-safety for more internet safety tips

Feel free to share this with your network and brainstorm some ground rules that apply to your family or situation. Find prevention tips and resources by checking out www.fivedaysofaction.org.

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 28 - KEEP KIDS SAFE AND BUSY

With changes to your regular routines, are you looking for ways to keep your kids busy and safe at the same time? When thinking through activities, it’s important to think about the three main principles for minimizing the opportunity of abuse – preventing isolation, keeping situations interruptible, and setting expectations. Try to think about these principles as you make plans for your kids.

Check out a sample daily calendar you can adapt to here. (https://www.fivedaysofaction.org/activity-template)

All kids are different, be flexible and let them be a part of the planning!

THURSDAY OCTOBER 29 - BEING THE SAFE ADULT

Do you know what a safe adult is? Do your kids? Safe adults are the ones kids know they can trust if they need help.

But, it’s more than that.

Safe adult status matters more than just when it’s “crunch-time.” We know life can be stressful, and it is easy for kids and parents to get overwhelmed. This is why it’s important to have an open line of communication with your kids at all times, so no matter what is going on in your life, they know they can communicate their feelings with you. By being a safe adult in good times, you’ll automatically be a safe adult for them to turn to when things aren’t going right.

Do you know how to recognize the behaviors of safe adults? Download these two worksheets created by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children – one is for Adults and one is for Kids.

FRIDAY OCTOBER 30 - CODE OF CONDUCT VALUES

A pre-determined set of values around bodies and boundaries can go a long way toward protecting your kids from sexual abuse. It can help kids understand what acceptable and unacceptable behavior is, help them make informed decisions, and ultimately avoid dangerous situations. We call this set of values a “Code of Conduct.”

But, how do you define your values and set expectation for them?

Create a family code of conduct! How? Find the Family Code of Conduct Worksheet here.

Topics to include:

• How do you treat others?
• Play dates and hangouts
• Photos 
• Sleepovers
• Babysitters
• Internet & Social Media Safety

FOR MORE PREVENTION TIPS AND RESOURCES VISIT www.fivedaysofaction.org.

MADISON AREA YMCA
111 Kings Road, Madison, NJ
973-822-YMCA (9622)
madisonareaymca.org