Suggested Grade/Age Range: Grades 4-6 (ages 9-11)

Activity Objective: The goal of this activity is to help children identify 3 or more adults they can turn to for help in times of distress. Because the first adult a child turns to may not always be able to respond effectively to the child’s needs, it is important that the child has a few options to ensure they gets the help needed

Learning Goals
Big Messages to Kids

Link to Ontario Curriculum

Materials Required: Who Can Help Contact Sheet

Prep Time: 5-10 minutes

Review over lesson plan and key discussion points

Task Time: 30-40 minutes

• Explore scenarios and have discussion
• Have children identify adults they can go to get help from and have them fill out the Who Can Help Contact Sheet

Activity Description:

Opening Discussion:

1.       Tell the class that sometimes when things happen to us, we need to get help from an adult that we can trust. Ask some of the children to share an example of an adult who they feel comfortable speaking with when they need help with something

2.       Tell them that together you will explore some scenarios and ask them who they can turn to for help during these situations (make sure to emphasize that the person needs to be an adult). For each of the scenarios, ask the children to share who they would go to for help and why. Ask them who else they can go to if the first adult they named could not help them in the way they need? Emphasize the importance of continuing to ask for help from adults until they get the help they need

3.       After children have identified who they can go to for help in each of the scenarios below, also emphasize the importance of clear communication. Explore with the class how they could ask for help (e.g., the verbal and non-verbal cues they can use to ensure they are communication clearly and are being listened to). Here are the scenarios:

• You see a younger student being picked on by another student at recess
• Your aunt likes to give you a kiss when she visits and you really don’t like it
• You see an older kid stealing from the convenience store. The kid notices that you saw what they did and threatens to hurt you if you don’t keep it a secret
• Your friend tells you that someone is hurting them and tells you not to tell anyone
• Someone has touched you in a way that makes you feel uncomfortable and asks you to keep it a secret
• You are really nervous about performing in the school play and don’t want to go to school on that day

Activity:

4.       Tell the children that they will now work individually to think of three or more adults that they feel comfortable turning to for help when they need it. They will record down information about these adults on the sheet provided. The facilitator should circulate and check in with each student and help them brainstorm as needed

Potential Adaptations:

For ELL Learners, allow them to write down three or more adults in their first language as applicable

Activity Extensions:

• Have children identify safe places that they can go to for getting help
• Take children through the Kids Help Phone website to help them become aware of this resource and of its availability in times of need

Additional Comments:

Some individuals may have great difficulty thinking of one or more adults they can get help from. It is important to sit with these individuals to help them think about the support networks that are available to them (e.g., teachers and other staff in school, community representatives, etc.)

Additional Resources:

• Kids Help Phone
• You may also choose to review the Getting Help Literature Review before implementing this activity. It can be found here