Prevention of physical abuse is addressed in the Safe Child
Program in kindergarten, grade 1 and grade 3.
Children know that parents have bad days, that they have
problems and that sometimes they take their problems out on their
kids. This doesn't make them bad people. At the same time,
children should know that there are limits to acceptable behavior.
Equally important, children learn that this type of treatment is
never deserved or "their fault."
Children tend to believe that they cause the things that happen to
them. This is part of what keeps them from telling. In a context of
supporting kids and families, the children learn:
It's not all right for someone to hurt you physically;
That punishment which leaves bruises or marks which are
there the next day is excessive;
You need to tell someone if you're being hurt; and
Who to tell and how to tell.