POSH
Ages 5–8
Young children do not need complex explanations.
They need simple rules they can remember and repeat.
How to use this page:
Focus on simple, repeatable safety habits. At this age, clarity protects better than detail.
Start simple, repeat often
STOP • TELL • NO SECRETS
Young children learn safety through repetition, not long explanations. The goal is to build automatic habits that trigger when something feels wrong.
At this age, safety is simple:
If something feels confusing, uncomfortable, or secret — they stop and tell.
What children this age can do
- Follow simple rules
- Recognise when something feels “not right”
- Tell a trusted adult when prompted
- Understand basic good vs bad behaviour
They do not need to understand everything — they just need to know when to tell.
What children this age cannot do yet
- They cannot understand manipulation deeply
- They cannot always explain what is happening
- They can be easily influenced by kindness or attention
- They may not recognise danger if it feels “friendly”
This is why simple rules matter more than complex explanations.
The 3 rules that matter most
1. If someone asks you to keep a secret → tell a safe adult
2. If something feels confusing or uncomfortable → stop and tell
3. You will never get in trouble for telling the truth
Children repeat what they remember — keep the rules simple.
Safe adult understanding
Children need to clearly understand who they can go to.
- Parent
- Step-parent
- Grandparent
- Teacher
- School staff
Safe adults do not ask children to hide things from other safe adults.
Secrets vs surprises
Surprises are temporary and fun
Secrets are ongoing and hidden
- Surprise: birthday present (told later)
- Secret: “don’t tell your parents”
If it has to stay hidden — it is not safe.
Simple scripts for parents
“You can always tell me anything. You are not in trouble.”
“If someone tells you to keep a secret, you tell me straight away.”
“If something feels weird or confusing, you stop and tell.”
“I will always help you, not get angry at you.”
Simple safety pattern
Something feels off
↓
Stop what you're doing
↓
Tell a safe adult
↓
Get help straight away
Practice this often so it becomes automatic.
Where risk can appear
- Games with chat or voice
- YouTube comments or suggested content
- Apps with messaging features
- Older siblings’ devices
- Shared devices without supervision
Young children do not need full access — they need guided access.
What parents should focus on
- Keep devices in shared spaces
- Use parental controls
- Limit chat features where possible
- Check apps and games regularly
- Repeat safety rules often
Consistency builds safety faster than one big conversation.
Biggest mistake at this age
Assuming children will “just know” what to do
Using complex explanations they cannot understand
Not repeating safety rules enough
If the rule is not simple, it will not be remembered
Final reminder
Young children do not need to understand everything.
They just need to know when to stop and tell.
Simple rules protect best at this age