Safe People
What is a safe person?
A grown-up who helps you feel safe, listens to you, and helps when you need it.
What is a safe place?
A place where you are protected and can get help or begin to feel calm.
You're feeling really sad at school. What could you do?
Tell a safe adult or go to a safe place.
Show us what taking 3 slow breaths looks like.
Demonstrates slow breathing.
Finish the sentence: “When I need help, I can _____.”
Tell/ask a safe adult.
Name one safe person you could talk to at school.
Teacher, counselor, therapist, principal, etc.
Name one safe place at school.
Classroom, counselor's office, calm space, office, etc.
You fall on the playground and get hurt. Who could you tell?
A teacher, recess monitor, nurse, or another safe adult.
Pretend you need a break. Show us how you could ask a teacher.
“Can I please take a break?”
Name two safe people you could go to.
Any two appropriate trusted adults.
Name one safe person you could talk to outside of school.
Parent/caregiver, grandparent, relative, coach, etc.
Name one safe place outside of school.
Home, trusted relative's house, library, etc.
Someone keeps bothering you even after you ask them to stop. What should you do?
Move away and tell a safe adult.
Pretend something is bothering you. Show us how you could ask a safe adult for help.
Appropriate help-seeking.
Name one safe person AND one safe place.
Appropriate examples of each.
True or false: You should have more than one safe person.
True! It’s good to have a team of safe people.
True or false: You can still feel sad, angry, or scared when you're in a safe place.
True! Being upset doesn't mean you aren't safe.
You get separated from your grown-up in a store. What could you do?
Stay in a safe/public area and ask a store worker or another identified safe adult for help.
Pretend your first safe person isn't available. Show us what you would do next.
Identifies/seeks another adult.
Your body feels out of control. Name one safe person, one safe place, AND one calming skill you could use.
Any appropriate combination.
You need help, but your favorite safe adult isn't there. What can you do?
Find another safe adult and ask them for help.
You're getting really upset. How could going to a safe place help you?
It can give you space to calm your body, use a coping skill, or get help.
You tell a grown-up about a problem, but the problem doesn't get better. What should you do next?
Tell another safe adult and keep asking for help.
You're REALLY angry. Show us two things you could do to keep yourself safe while your body calms down.
Break, breathing, safe space, sensory strategy, asking for help, etc.
SUPERSTAR CHALLENGE: You're having a big problem. Tell us your whole safety plan: Who could you tell? Where could you go? What could you do to help your body?
Identifies a safe person + safe place + regulation strategy.