Prevention Education

The Prevention Education program provides presentations for preschoolers all the way up to seniors in high school on how they can fight their own abuse or get help if they have been a victim. This free service hopes to prevent the occurrence of child abuse and neglect by heightening awareness of the dynamics of abuse and enhancing personal safety skills. By providing students with information about abuse and subsequent personal safety skills, children will be more empowered to help themselves (or to seek help) if the need arises.

All material taught in these lessons are age-appropriate and approved by Nebo, Provo, and Alpine School Districts. Schools outside of these districts are welcome to schedule presentations for their schools; however, traveling costs (gas mileage) for the Prevention Specialist will need to be covered.

Elementary Presentations

What Tadoo: Pre-K – 2nd
    Children learn the basic safety rules about touches: good touches make us happy (hugs), bad touches make us sad (hits), and confusing touches are not okay! We identify private parts as the parts of our body covered up by a bathing suit. We discuss the meaning of the word private, off-limits for others, with a few exceptions (mom helping in the bath). Children also learn the safety rules: say no, get away, and tell someone!


What Tadoo With Secrets: 3rd – 4th
    Children have a basic review of What Tadoo principles. Then we identify different kinds of secrets. We discuss good secrets, bad secrets, and where to go with bad secrets. We watch a movie about a little girl who has a bad secret and watch her gain the courage to tell her mom what’s going on.

Yes You Can Say No: 5th -6th
    Basic principles of What Tadoo About Secrets are reviewed. In this presentation, we discuss the meaning of being assertive and how it can help in lots of different life situations. We watch a movie about a little boy who learns to stand up for himself against an uncle who has been bothering him.

Junior High and High School Presentations

Stress Management: Health Classes, Adult Roles, TLC
    Stress is defined and we discuss what happens to our bodies and emotions during the stress response. While stress can be helpful, we need to keep it under control. There are four great coping strategies: Find the Hope (positive thinking), Relaxing Activities, Taking Breaks, and Receive Support. We will do several activities including a stressful dice game, a positive thinking exercise, and a relaxation activity.

Depression and Suicide: Health Classes, Adult Roles, 8th Graders
    Depression affects many people and the better we understand it, the more tools we will have to overcome it. Depression is compared to a glass of water sitting on a three-legged stool. The water is sadness gathered up over time that is difficult to let go or dump out. The three legs of the stool are different causes of depression. We talk about what the causes are (environmental, psychological, biological), and how to cut down each leg of the stool and dump out the glass. We also address suicide by helping people understand the mindset of someone who is suicidal. It is an understandably difficult place to be, however, suicide should never be an option. There is help and there is hope when it comes to overcoming emotional pain or emptiness.

Dynamics of Abuse: Child Development, Adult Roles
    The four main types of child abuse are defined and minimally discussed. We point out basic signs and symptoms for the different types of abuse. We watch a movie about four children who want to tell their story about abuse. Healing from abuse is illustrated through an object lesson. The main objective is to increase understanding and awareness of what child abuse is and where people can go to report the abuse and seek help in overcoming it.

Dating Violence: Health, Adult Roles, 9th grade
    This is a very fun lesson with role plays and group discussion. We talk about healthy relationships and red flags of unhealthy relationships. We discuss the dangers of future abuse if people allow themselves to be controlled be their significant other. Boys and girls can be guilty of being controlling and that is the foundation of abusive personalities. We also discuss dangers of date rape, drug use, and domestic violence. Depth of content depends on the age of the audience.

Positive Child Guidance: Health, Adult Roles, Child Development, TLC
    In order to help kids behave better we need to understand some basic things about them. They communicate through their behavior, not their words. They have ego-centric thinking because their brains have not finished developing. The basis of discipline with a child is the relationship so we discuss relationship bank accounts. Once there is some basic understanding in place we discuss setting limits and a relationship builder called special play.

To schedule a presentation at your school please call our Prevention Specialist, Candice Bahm, at (801) 229-1181 or send an email to prevention1255@gmail.com