DISCLOSURES
Ensure the child feels safe and secure
- Stay close to them after the disclosure or be available to them so you can provide a sense of security.
- Child’s safety is your number one priority.
- Safety and security is different for different children – some may want to cling and be away from other children, others may want to get back to play and back to normality.
Tip No 9 - Provide safety and security
Providing safety and security will be different for each child and the circumstances. Some children will just be eager to get back to the playground and back to normality – and in those cases that is the best way you can provide safety and security for them.
But make sure you keep a close eye on them for any delayed effects.
In most cases you should try and stay close to the child after the disclosure to provide a sense of security – or at least be available to them.
While you have documenting and reporting responsibilities to attend to, the child’s safety is paramount.
Knowing the child will help you with this – so eg you may know that Emily enjoys the reading corner or home corner or watching movies – so you can offer this to her, but if she enjoys the swings or outdoors and the company of the other kids then she may rather stay with her playmates and the usual routine for the day.