Safety Planning with an Elementary School Aged Child
As adults, it is our responsibility to let children know that the best way they can help is to go somewhere safe, away from the fighting. Children need to learn how to call the police and how to determine when it is necessary. Intervention by the police decreases the severity and frequency of assaults.
- Emphasize the importance of being safe and that it is not a child’s responsibility to help their parents feel safe.
- Brainstorm places inside or outside the house children can go when fighting is happening.
- Brainstorm a list of people children could call to help them feel safe.
- Talk about any neighbors from whom they could request help.
- Role-play calling the police. Make sure children know they should only call the police if they are in a separate room from the violence. Teach them the basic information they need to know to call the police.
