Teaching Protective Behaviours to Young Children: Empowering Young Children to Feel SaferBy Gelenter, C., Bailey, R., Riley, B.. . London: Routledge. 2024, pp. 168. £160.19 (Hardcover). ISBN: 978-1032393773

In an era characterized by a heightened global consciousness regarding child protection, the imperative to empower young children to recognize and assert their rights to safety has become increasingly significant. The widespread exposure of historical child sexual abuse cases in Western countries, coupled with the escalating concern over online exploitation, underscores the enduring complexity of child safety as a multifaceted social, political and legal challenge. Against this backdrop, the role of education in fostering children's sense of security and self-advocacy has become of utmost importance. Thus, the second edition of Teaching Protective Behaviours to Young Children: Empowering Young Children to Feel Safer, co-authored by Carolyn Gelenter, Rachel Bailey and Belinda Riley, emerges as a timely and essential resource. This book offers a practical and contemporary approach to teaching protective behaviours to young children, addressing critical issues of child safety and empowerment in educational contexts. Structured within the Protective Behaviours framework, this book is guided by the principles that every individual has the inherent right to feel safe at all times and that any concern, regardless of its magnitude, should be shareable with a trusted person. In alignment with these principles, the book is organized into six core chapters, addressing essential topics such as emotional awareness, safety network development and personal boundary establishment. Starting with emotional literacy, Session 1 employs interactive games and practical activities to help children identify and express different emotions, thereby understanding that feelings are just feelings. Building on this, Session 2 guides children in recognizing the emotions of safety and fear and in seeking help when feeling scared. Next, Session 3 assists children in identifying early warning signs in their bodies and the connection between physical sensations and emotions. Then, Session 4 enhances children's body autonomy through interactive activities, teaching them to respect their own and others' bodies. Moving to practical strategies, Session 5 introduces a practice to help children pause, recognize their feelings, think through responses and act in a considered manner when facing problems. Finally, Session 6 involves creating a Helping Hand to identify trustworthy adults and build a support network. Collectively, these sessions aim to cultivate a sense of security and self-protection in young children, empowering them to navigate their environment with confidence and resilience. In addition to the structured teaching sessions, the book provides an extensive array of supplementary tools and resources, including character cards, timetable cards, feelings cards, game packs, song packs and a recommended reading list, to assist educators and caregivers in effectively promoting children's safety education. The book extends beyond the classroom and can be easily incorporated into daily school and family routines, serving as a vital resource for educators, parents and professionals to support young children's safety. By providing practical session plans and comprehensive teaching resources, the book facilitates the development of a sense of safety in children, understand their rights and learn to seek help when needed, thereby laying a solid foundation for their holistic growth and development. The book's significance is manifest in its emphasis on empowering children to identify and communicate with trusted adults. The concept of the ‘Helping Hand’ enables children to construct a visual support network of adults to whom they can turn to for help, reaffirming their right to seek assistance when needed. The book also offers guidance on supporting children with diverse communication abilities, ensuring inclusivity and accessibility. Another salient feature is the authors' focus on integrating protective behaviours into the broader culture of educational settings. By advocating a whole-school approach, the authors embed protective behaviours into daily practices, transcending the confines of the classroom. This holistic strategy is pivotal in fostering a supportive environment where children feel secure and empowered. Building on its practical methods and detailed lesson plans, the book serves as an invaluable resource for educators and caregivers, extending its influence beyond the classroom. By equipping children with the skills to recognize and defend their rights to safety, the book contributes to a broader culture of child protection. For parents, it functions as a practical guide to cultivating children's sense of security and empowerment, offering tools and strategies that can be seamlessly incorporated into daily life to create a supportive home environment. For educators, it serves as a comprehensive resource that can be integrated into the curriculum, ensuring consistent and effective instruction in protective behaviours. From a policy perspective, the book underscores the necessity of systemic change to support child protection, highlighting the importance of embedding protective behaviours into a broader educational framework and advocating for policies that prioritize child safety and well-being. This includes providing training for educators, support for caregivers and the development of comprehensive safeguarding policies. In conclusion, this book represents an indispensable and practical resource for professionals and caregivers engaged with young children. Amidst the global focus on child protection, the book provides a robust and empowering framework for promoting child safety. By endowing children with the capacity to aware their rights to safety and equipping them with strategies to navigate potentially hazardous scenarios, the book makes a substantial contribution to the field of child protection and safeguarding. Through its emphasis on empowering children to feel secure and advocating for systemic reform, the book not only enhances individual well-being but also contributes to cultivating a culture of safety that upholds children's rights.