What is a Secret? What is a Surprise?

WHAT IS A SECRET? WHAT IS A SURPRISE? is an essential follow-up to MY BODY YOUR BODY. 

As Parents or caregivers, we can't be there every second of the day. Our role must be one including body safety and protective measures so that in the event of unwanted or unsafe behaviour children are confident and empowered to handle it, seeking help at the first opportunity.

Keeping secrets, even seemingly innocent ones can be the start of unsafe situations. These types of secrets can be from adults, siblings or other children.

Not all abuse occurs from adult Predators. Predators will often test children with small secrets, like a lollie or small toy as a "secret gift", to see if the child can keep things private from other people. This can happen for many years and is the most critical part of starting the abuse cycle.

From an age as early as possible ( 2 years to 9) it is not recommended that we encourage children to keep any kind of secrets, rather as they mature and their understanding develops we can then introduce SAFE AND UNSAFE secrets. For example, the spare key is under the flower pot. This is a secret that is not to be shared with others, but not an unsafe secret. WHAT IS A SECRET,

WHAT IS A SURPRISE? Will cover the following information:

• A surprise is not a secret that is unsafe.
• A surprise has more than one or two people that know about it.
• A surprise has an end date or stop to it.
• A surprise is usually a happy occasion or event with a positive outcome.
• A surprise shouldn't give you uncomfortable body feelings that indicate something is " Not right ''.
• A secret only has one or two people that know about it.
• A secret has no specific time to be shared.
• A secret can feel uncomfortable to keep and give you worries or early warning signs that something isn't feeling right.

Written in an easy to understand dialogue the goal is to further enhance the knowledge of MY BODY YOUR BODY.