Protective Behaviours
Protective Behaviours is a practical, safety-focused framework that helps children recognise, understand, and respond to situations that make them feel unsafe. It teaches two key principles:
- everyone has the right to feel safe all the time and
- nothing is too awful or insignificant that they can’t talk about it with someone they trust.
The approach helps children identify their own "early warning signs" — the physical sensations or emotional cues (such as a racing heart, feeling sick, sweaty palms or a sense of fear) that signal when something doesn’t feel right. It also supports children and young people to develop personal safety strategies—practical actions and decision-making skills they can use to keep themselves safe, such as moving away from unsafe situations, saying "no," seeking help, or contacting a trusted adult. By promoting awareness, assertiveness, and help-seeking behaviours, Protective Behaviours empowers children to recognise unsafe situations, set personal boundaries, and seek support when they need it.
Visit the Useful resources and support services for organisations that provide support and resources around protective behaviours.