Safety Circle Slides Safety Circle
Knowing who can help and how to stay safe!
Safe Adults • Public Safety • Digital Safety
My Safety Circle
Me
What is a Safety Circle?
A Safety Circle is a group of adults you trust who have permission from your parents to help you, look after you, and keep you safe.
They follow your family's safety rules.
You feel comfortable talking to them.
They respect your personal space.
Helpers in Uniform
Police Officers
Look for the badge, the uniform, and the specialized car.
Firefighters
They help in emergencies and wear protective gear.
Store Workers
Look for a nametag, a vest, or a counter if you get lost.
Pro Tip: If you are lost, look for a Mom with kids . They are often very good at helping children find their parents!
Strangers on My Screen
The "Gamer" Rule
When I play games online, I might see messages from people I don't know in real life. These people are Digital Strangers .
Keep It Private
I never tell a digital stranger my real name, where I live, or what school I go to.
Game Chat
Hi! How old are you?
Where do you live?
STOP!
My Body, My Choice
"I know them, but..."
Sometimes people we know—like neighbors or older kids—might ask for a hug or to sit close.
You always have the right to say "No" to touching, even to people you know.
High Five
A quick, safe way to say hello.
A Wave
Friendly hello from a distance.
No, Thank You
It is okay to use your words if you feel uncomfortable.
Tell Someone
Always tell your Safe Adult if someone makes you feel weird.
How to Ask for Help
1
Find a Helper
Look for a uniform or a "Mom with kids."
2
Speak Loudly
Say: "I am lost and I need help finding my grown-up!"
3
Stay Put
Do not go to a second location. Wait with the helper.
Practice your shout!
"Help! I don't know this person!"
Helper Hunt Worksheet Helper Hunt
Finding the right adult to keep me safe!
Name
Date
Part 1: The Safety Circle
Circle the adults that would be in a child's Safety Circle . These are adults who have permission to help you.
Mom or Dad
My Teacher
Stranger in Park
Grandparents
Part 2: Finding Help in Public
Match the Community Helper to the place where they can help you.
I am lost in the Grocery Store.
Store Worker with a Nametag
There is an emergency on the road.
Police Officer in a Patrol Car
I can't see my parents at the Park.
A Mom with other children
Part 3: Digital Safety
If a stranger on a screen asks for your Real Name or Where You Live , what should you do?
Write or Draw your answer below!
Part 4: My Space
Check the box for YES if it is okay to say "No, thank you" to these things:
A neighbor asks for a hug that you don't want.
An older kid wants to sit very close to you.
A relative asks for a kiss on the cheek.
Safety Scout Cards Safety Scout Cards
Role-play scenarios to practice staying safe!
Print & Cut 8 Scenario Cards
Lost at
the Zoo
You are looking at the monkeys and realize you can't see your grown-up. You are all alone.
Your Task:
Look for a person with a name tag or a Mom with kids . Practice saying: "I am lost. Can you help me find my grown-up?"
Gaming
Secret
A person you are playing a game with online says: "Hey, what's your real name? Let's be best friends, but don't tell your parents yet!"
Your Task:
STOP! Log off immediately.
Go find a Safe Adult and tell them exactly what the digital stranger said.
The No-Hug
Rule
A neighbor you know comes over and wants to give you a big hug, but you don't feel like hugging today.
Your Task:
Practice saying: "No thank you, I don't want a hug today. I can give you a high-five instead!"
Lost in
the Store
You were looking at toys and your family walked to another aisle. You are lost in a big department store.
Your Task:
Find a worker behind a counter or at a cash register. Practice asking for help and staying right there.
Secret
Acquaintance
An older kid at the park says: "Hey, I have a secret to show you behind those trees. Come look, but don't tell anyone!"
Your Task:
NO SECRETS!
Say: "I don't go anywhere without asking my grown-up." Then run back to your family.
Photo
Request
Someone on your favorite drawing app asks: "You're so good! Can you send me a picture of what you look like?"
Your Task:
DON'T SEND!
We never send pictures of ourselves to people we haven't met in real life. Tell a Safe Adult.
The Car
Stranger
A car pulls up while you are playing in your yard. The person says: "Hey! Your mom told me to pick you up. I have candy in the car!"
Your Task:
RUN AND SHOUT!
Run toward your house or a Safe Adult. Shout: "I don't know you! Help!"
Emergency
Helper
You see smoke coming from a neighbor's house. You need to tell someone fast.
Your Task:
Find a Safe Adult immediately or look for a Firefighter or Police Officer if you are near their station. Tell them what you saw.
Safety Circle Teacher Guide Teacher Guide
Lesson: Safety Circle
Duration: 45-60 min
Grade: K-2
Learning Objectives
Identify adults who belong in a personal Safety Circle .
Recognize Community Helpers and how to find them in public.
Explain basic rules for Digital Safety with strangers.
Demonstrate setting physical boundaries with acquaintances.
Materials Needed
Safety Circle Slides
Helper Hunt Worksheet
Safety Scout Cards
Scissors & Crayons
Lesson Flow
1
Introduction (Slide 1-2)
Define the Safety Circle . Emphasize that these are adults chosen by parents to help keep them safe. Ask students: "Who are some adults who help you at home and at school?"
2
Public Safety (Slide 3 & 6)
Focus on identifying uniforms, badges, and counters . Discuss the "Mom with kids" strategy as a secondary safe adult in public places like parks or stores.
3
Digital & Boundaries (Slide 4-5)
Discuss Digital Strangers . Use the "Game Chat" slide to explain why we don't share secrets online. For boundaries, practice saying "No, thank you" in a polite but firm voice.
4
Role-Play Practice (Cards)
Divide the class into small groups. Give each group a Safety Scout Card . Have them act out the scenario and their "Safety Task."
Key Discussion Questions
"What makes someone a stranger?"
Guide them away from "scary looking" and toward "anyone we don't know well."
"Is it okay to say 'no' to a hug from a relative?"
Validate that they are the boss of their body and can choose a wave or high-five instead.
Differentiation
For Younger Students (Pre-K/K)
Focus on the visual cues of community helpers. Spend more time on the "Lost in the Store" scenario as it is the most likely real-world situation for them.
For Older Students (2nd-3rd)
Deepen the Digital Safety conversation. Discuss social media apps and the danger of sharing "hidden" personal info like a school logo on a shirt in a photo.
For Neurodiverse Learners
Safety Life Skills Slides Personal Safety
Building My Safety Network
Boundaries
Digital Privacy
Safe Adults
My Safety Network
MYSELF
Who is in it?
A **Safety Network** is a group of trusted adults you can call or talk to if you feel unsafe or need help.
Family Members
Teachers or Staff
Job Coaches or Mentors
Helpers in the Community
Security Guards
Found in malls, banks, and movie theaters.
Transit Workers
Bus drivers or train staff in uniform.
Store Managers
Look for a professional vest or name tag.
Emergency 911
Call if you are in immediate danger.
Online Privacy
Private Information
Never share your **phone number**, **address**, or **full name** with someone you only know online.
Red Flags
Asking to meet in person.
Asking for personal photos.
Telling you to keep a secret.
New Friend 42
Hey! Can you send me a picture of your house? I want to see where you live.
DO NOT SEND
Personal Space
Your Body,
Your Rules
It doesn't matter if you know the person. If you feel uncomfortable, you have the right to say **NO**.
"I'm not comfortable with that right now."
The Arm's Length Rule
Keep about an arm's length of space between you and others.
Ask for Consent
Ask: "Is it okay if I give you a hug?" before touching someone.
Safety Network Worksheet My Safety Network
Building Life Skills for Safety
Name
Date
Section 1: Trusted People
Your **Safety Network** is made of adults you know well and trust. Circle the adults that belong in your personal network.
Family Member
Internet Stranger
Job Coach
Section 2: Digital Privacy
Look at the messages below. Mark the ones that are **UNSAFE** to answer.
"What is your home address? I want to visit you."
From: Gaming Friend Online
STOP
"Can you send me a picture of yourself?"
From: Stranger on Social Media
STOP
Section 3: Community Helpers
If you feel lost or unsafe in public, who can you talk to? Write down one place where you can find a **Community Helper**.
Asking for Help
Practice saying: "I am lost. I need help finding my trusted person."
Setting Boundaries
Practice saying: "Please give me some personal space. No, thank you."
Life Skills Safety Cards Life Skills Scenario Cards
Practical Safety Practice for High School Transition
HS / IDD Focus 6 Scenarios
The Workspace
Boundary
You are at your job site. A coworker is standing very close to you while you work. It makes you feel uncomfortable.
Practice Task:
Take one step back. Practice saying: "Can you please give me some personal space? I need more room to work."
Bus Stop
Safety
You are waiting for the bus. Someone you don't know keeps asking you for money and follows you when you move away.
Practice Task:
Find a Community Helper.
Look for the bus driver or a security guard. Say: "I don't feel safe. This person is following me."
Online Friend
Request
Someone adds you on social media. They say: "I go to your school! What's your phone number so we can hang out after class?"
Practice Task:
DO NOT ANSWER.
Check your school directory first or ask a Trusted Adult to see if the person really goes to your school.
Lost in the
Mall
You were with your group, but now you can't find them. You are in a large shopping mall and feel nervous.
Practice Task:
Go to a store counter or a security desk. Say: "I am separated from my group. Can you help me call my supervisor?"
The Social
Invitation
Someone you know from school keeps asking you to come over to their house alone. You don't want to go.
Practice Task:
Practice saying: "No, thank you. I'm not allowed to go to houses alone. Maybe we can talk at school tomorrow."
Phone Request
Safety
A stranger in the park says: "My phone is dead! Can I borrow your phone for a minute to make a quick call?"
Practice Task:
KEEP YOUR PHONE.
Say: "I can't lend my phone, but I can point you toward the park office for help."
