Speaking to children at school is key to keeping them safe, says NSPCC

Our Talk PANTS campaign helps to explain to parents and children how they can speak out about anything that makes them uncomfortable and gives them the confidence to do that.

The campaign was developed with children, parents, carers and teachers, and is here to help children understand that their body belongs to them, and they should tell a safe and trusted adult if anything makes them feel upset or worried.

Through fun and educational activities, PANTS helps to explain to children that Privates are private, to Always remember their body belongs to them, No means no, they should Talk about secrets that upset them, and Speak up, because someone can help.

We’ve been talking PANTS since 2013 to ensure children are given this vital information, which is shared using age-appropriate language and a catchy music video by our dinosaur character, Pantosaurus. Pantosaurus has helped over 6 million parents to Talk PANTS to their children since the campaign launched.

The video is available on our YouTube channel and at www.nspcc.org.uk. As well as being fun, it has a serious message to give children essential information and confidence.

Since Talk PANTS was launched, the video has been viewed 3.5 million times, sparking more than 2 million conversations. We appreciate some parents might find the idea of talking to their children about this topic tough, but we encourage parents to help keep their children safe by sharing these vital messages in everyday life to help them identify when something is wrong, and how they can speak out about it.

We know here at the NSPCC in Hampshire that a simple conversation can make a big difference, and that’s what Talk PANTS is all about.

But when is the right time to talk PANTS? Every family is different, and when and where parents have these conversations may depend on their child’s age, or how grown up they are – it’s all about whatever feels natural.

There are several ways parents can start a conversation about PANTS to help their child keep safe.

Conversations could be started after school, particularly when a child has had a lesson on personal relationships or Talk PANTS , and it’s always good to ask them what they remember when they get home.

At bathtime parents can talk to their child about PANTS when running their bath or helping them get dressed.

Car journeys also provide ample time to talk and for parents to answer any questions their child might have. Reading the PANTS storybook together and singing along to the PANTS song with Pantosaurus are fun and interactive ways of learning how to keep children safe too.

However parents choose to talk PANTS to their child, we have a wide range of guides, videos and resources to help them.

For instance, our PANTS activity pack makes it easy to talk to your child about staying safe from harm. With a word search, dot-to-dot and maze game, parents can help them learn without using any scary words.

SEND materials for parents and carers with learning disabilities and for parents with neurodiverse children are available, as well as Makaton and BSL videos for keeping deaf children safe.

It is so vital that we have these conversations with children. In the 2022-2023 year, Hampshire Constabulary recorded more than 3,300 sex offences against under-18s. And while it is never the responsibility of a child to keep themselves safe from sexual abuse, talking PANTS can help children understand that their body belongs to them, to recognise when something is not okay, and how to tell someone.

There’s even more information and advice on talking PANTS, along with answers to frequently asked questions for parents on the website. There are also tips on how to answer the questions that children might ask.

And of course, if children are worried about speaking out about anything they’re concerned about, our Childline counsellors are available around the clock on 0800 1111, with chatboards and more advice on the Childline website too.