The first event for a new campaign in Edinburgh helping to protect young children from sexual abuse will be held at the McDonald Road Library next week.
This FREE fun, family friendly event at McDonald Library is open to all parents, carers and children aged 3-11 from across the city, from 3 to 4.30pm on Tuesday, October 17.
The year-long campaign was launched earlier this month (October 5) with an online event for professionals who work with children and families. It is being delivered by NSPCC Scotland, the Edinburgh Child Protection Committee and a wide range of partners across the city to spread the NSPCC’s Talk PANTS message.
Talk PANTS gives parents, carers and professionals advice on how to have simple, age-appropriate conversations with children to help keep them safe from sexual abuse.
With the help of a colourful animated dinosaur, called Pantosaurus, it helps children understand that their body belongs to them, that they have a right to say no and they should tell a safe adult they trust if anything makes them feel upset or worried.
At the family event there will be refreshments, a Bookbug session, colouring in, games and Talk PANTS materials for parents and carers to take away.
Over the coming year, local PANTS champions will be trained to deliver the campaign messages and resources to other professionals and families through webinars and workshops, and awareness raising events will be held across Edinburgh for parents, carers and children.
Carla Malseed, Local Campaigns Manager at the NSPCC, said: “We look forward to welcoming parents and carers to this event at the library, and look forward to chatting with them about Talk PANTS.
“This campaign doesn’t use scary words or talk about sex, instead we focus on the PANTS rules that help children understand important messages, like their body belongs to them and they should tell an adult if they’re upset or worried about something.
“We hope this campaign will provide parents with the knowledge and skills to be able to talk about this difficult topic with their child from a young age, to help prevent abuse. “
Lillian Cringles, Chair of the Edinburgh Child Protection Committee, said: “This campaign will help families and professionals have these important conversations with children about their bodies and help keep them safe.
“I’d urge as many parents and carers as possible to come along to this and other events in Edinburgh over the next few months.”
Other events throughout the year will promote the campaign materials and resources for parents, which includes a British Sign Language PANTS video, a Talk PANTS with Makaton guide, which is designed to be used to deliver the PANTS message to children with Additional Support Needs, and a Pantosaurus film. There are also resources for teachers to use in primary schools.
Find out more about Edinburgh Talk PANTS here.
Parents and professionals can also find out how to Talk PANTS here. The adult guides include ones for foster carers and parents with learning disabilities.
Anyone with concerns about the welfare of a child can call the NSPCC’s free and confidential helpline on 0808 800 5000 for advice.
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