NSPCC’s PANTS Week
Children and parents from across North East Lincolnshire have welcomed NSPCC staff, volunteers and their dinosaur mascot ‘Pantosarus’ as part of a new campaign to help keep children safe from abuse.
Talk PANTS week, which kick-started on Monday in the region, is designed to help children recognise the signs of abuse and neglect using age-appropriate language.
Research shows that one in three children who are sexually abused by an adult do not tell someone at the time, and that 90% of children who are abused, are abused by someone they know.
Since the NSPCC’s Talk PANTS campaign launched in 2013, it has been shared with a million parents and more than 950,000 children to help them understand and remember simple but vital messages.
Throughout this week’s campaign launch, schools and communities have been visited with face-painting, games, music and fun in places such as the YMCA and West Marsh Community Centre in Grimsby and Immingham Library.
NSPCC mascot ‘Pantosaurus’ also visited Canon Peter Hall Primary, and the week of activities will come to a close with a public event at Cleethorpes Library this Saturday (November 11), with parents being encouraged to attend with their families.
I want to thank all the parents, schools and libraries who have got behind PANTS week so far, helping us share these really important messages. PANTS week and the work of the NSPCC is about early prevention. It’s about talking to children in an age-appropriate, but also fun and engaging, way so they understand their body belongs to them and know they can talk to someone if they are worried. We want to have a positive impact from an early age and this campaign helps to encourage parents to have those all-important conversations with their children, to help keep them safe from sexual abuse.”
NSPCC Local Campaigns Manager, Gail Sayles
Talk PANTS, with the assistance of the colourful dinosaur Pantosaurus, helps children understand that their body belongs to them and to recognise when something is not okay and how to tell someone.
The PANTS acronym gives children and parents an easy way to discuss the subject, and teaches children that:
Privates are private
Always remember your body belongs to you
‘No’ means no
Talk about secrets that upset you
Speak up – someone can help
Anna Brader, Immingham Library Manager, said: “It’s refreshing to see our libraries being used as a force for good. We encourage all parents in the area to learn more about Talk PANTS as well as all of the great sessions and activities our libraries and our partner – the NSPCC – host together.”
Helen Sadler, who runs “Shake, Rattle and Read” sessions for Lincs Inspire, said: “We use stories, songs, music and movement to encourage for pre-school children and we’re proud to be helping the NSPCC spread their PANTS messaging.
“Campaigns like this give children the chance for them to socialise, learn much-needed motor skills and improve cognitive development.
“The statistics are troubling. We hope that what we are doing here helps spread awareness as well as providing a great day out for parents and their children.”
The Cleethorpes Library public PANTS event will take place this Saturday (NOV 11) between 10am and noon and will feature face-painting, a dinosaur egg hunt, crafts and a visit from Pantosaurus.
To find out more about upcoming events – including how to host an information evening for parents or community groups – contact Gail.Sayles@nspcc.org.uk
To find out more about the NSPCC’s work to support and safeguard children, and how you can support the charity through volunteering or fundraising go to www.nspcc.org.uk
