The Cornerstones of the Child Lures Prevention program is the basic, introductory philosophy of the overall program. A few moments should be devoted to discussing the Cornerstones at the beginning of each lesson each year. Following the review of the Cornerstones, the catechist would then proceed to one of the lures being presented.
The learning objectives of the Cornerstones are:
- Most people are safe most of the time
- Sometimes some people who seem nice can turn violent
- Those people who hurt children use “lures” to trap them
- It is a crime for any adult to sexually abuse a child
- It is wrong for an adult to touch a child in his/her “bathing suit zone” except for certain situations
- We follow our instincts to help keep us safe from dangerous people or situations
Keeping in mind the age of the children you are teaching (from Grade One to Eight) you may either summarize the above objectives in your words followed by a brief discussion or use some of the questions below to accomplish the same.
What kind of weather is the safest?
Warm and sunny with clear blue skies.
What kind of people do you like best?
Most of us like nice, “sunny” people.
Can a nice person suddenly sometimes become a not-so-nice person?Yes.
If we try to stay away from bad weather, like tornadoes or thunderstorms, should we also try to stay away from not-so-nice people?
Yes, because it is safe for us.
In fishing, what is a “lure?”
It is like a hook or bait that is used to attract fish.
Some people who are not nice will use lures to try to trap children. What kind of lures do you think these people will use?
Depending on how many times children have been through this, you may hear either no answers or asking for help, promising you something you really want, pretending to be your friend, threatening to hurt you.
What do we call the parts of your body that are covered by a bathing suit?
Private parts.
To whom does your body belong?
Your body belongs only to you.
Why shouldn’t adults touch a child in the bathing suit zone? Because it is against the law. It is a crime.
Is it ever OK for an adult to touch a child on his/her private parts?
Yes. Giving a bath to a young child. During a doctor’s visit if a parent is present. If you have a serious injury to your privates.
If an adult tried to touch you on your private parts, what should you do?
Tell an adult you trust—a parent, a relative, a teacher. The police need to be told because this is wrong. It is against the law. It is a crime.
What are instincts?
Feelings we have inside us that tell us things about people or situations.
How do you feel when you hear an alarm or a siren?
Excited, worried, scared.
Have you ever met somebody you thought was “weird” and you had uneasy feelings? Are these your instincts telling you something? What should you do?
Be aware of our instincts and trust them. Tell a trusted adult about our instincts.
For more information or for a fuller explanation of these Cornerstones, please refer to the Presenter’s Instruction Guide pages 29 – 40 for Elementary and pages 94 – 104 for Middle School.