Parent and Child Activities
Parents are a child’s most important teachers.
Talking with your child about personal safety isn’t a one-time conversation—it’s an ongoing dialogue that grows with them. Children face different situations and environments as they get older, from the playground to the classroom to online spaces.
Frequent, open conversations—tailored to the spaces and situations your child encounters or may encounter—help them build the knowledge and confidence to make safe choices and reach out to trusted adults when needed. The activities on this page are designed to spark those important discussions and make perosnal safety a natural part of your everyday routine.
Discussing Sensitive Topics with Your Child
Children are safer when they learn about sensitive topics—like sexual abuse, dating violence, and sexting—from caring, informed adults rather than peers or online sources. Having these conversations builds trust and ensures your child knows they can come to you with questions or concerns.
One way to start is by writing your child a letter. In your letter, share what you want them to know about personal safety, ask what they already understand, explain how to stay safe, identify other safe adults, and set clear expectations for their behavior and conversations around the topic. Give them the letter and invite them to write back, sharing their own thoughts, feelings, and questions. Use these letters as a starting point for an open, honest discussion—even if the topic feels uncomfortable—and take time to look up any information you’re unsure about so you can learn together.
Conversations don’t have to be formal—try talking while on a walk, during a car ride, or while playing a game. You might also use a prompted journal or back-and-forth notebook to keep the dialogue going over time. For more guidance on online safety and digital safety conversation starters, visit parents.thorn.org.
Online Safety Pledge
The Online Safety Pledge is a simple, customizable agreement for parents and children to complete together. It helps set clear expectations for safe and responsible use of technology, covering topics like device time limits, “no device zones,” keeping personal information private, responding to unwanted contact, and handling inappropriate messages. Completing the pledge together opens the door for important conversations about online safety and gives children a clear set of guidelines they can follow to protect themselves in digital spaces.
The What If? Game
The “What If?” Game is a simple, interactive activity that helps children and teens practice how to respond to everyday, unexpected, and boundary-related situations in a way that feels safe and engaging. By asking open-ended “what if” questions, youth are encouraged to think through possibilities and create their own solutions, building confidence and decision-making skills. The approach keeps conversations light (not fear-based), includes real-life and online scenarios, and strengthens relationships by creating opportunities for open dialogue—helping young people feel empowered to act and seek help in potentially unsafe situations.
Safety Plan Together
Parents can create a safety plan with their child by working together to prepare for everyday and unexpected situations. This includes choosing a simple, unique code word to signal safety or discomfort, setting clear expectations about checking in and asking permission, and establishing rules for online activity and device use. Families are encouraged to talk about safety topics like visiting others’ homes, recognizing emergencies, and how to respond (including practicing calling 911), while also identifying trusted adults, neighbors, and emergency contacts. The plan should be reviewed regularly and adjusted as children grow, with added conversations for older youth around independence, social situations, and responsible technology use.
