Yell and Tell - Parent Letter

Written by Debbie Mahoney

This is a sample letter to be sent by the teacher to the parents or guardians of the children in the class.

Dear Parents or Guardians,

As your child's teacher, I share your concern about your child's safety and well-being. On ________________________ our class will be having a special event called Break the Silence - Yell and Tell. We will be watching an excellent video, Break the Silence, by Arnold Shapiro Productions which discusses child abuse from children's points-of-view. Yell and Tell is a program developed and distributed by SOC-UM (Safeguarding Our Children-United Mothers) a non-profit organization located in Tracy, California. SOC-UM is dedicated to the prevention of child abuse. We will be discussing stranger lures, as well as good, bad, and confusing touches. The children will learn to Yell, Run, and Tell when confronted with potentially abusive situations.

Throughout the program, your child's skills and competence will be emphasized. My goal is for your child to become aware of potential danger and to be careful, but not fearful. You are invited to attend this event with your child starting at ______________. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at school.

At the end of the event, we will be having a class party to celebrate your child's new skills. Please be available for your child in case s/he would like to discuss the event with you at home that evening. Child abuse is a serious problem and all parents need to be aware of the toll child abuse takes on the victims. Even if your family has never experienced any kind of abuse your child may have friends who have. Unless an abused child receives help and understanding, abuse interferes with his or her success in school and personal relationships. If you are in need of resources to help your family deal with child abuse, our school can help.

Sincerely,

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I am aware that my child _________________________ ___ will be participating in Break the Silence - Yell and Tell in class.

_________ I would like to attend the event with my child.

_________ I would like to send treats for the celebration of my child's new self-protection skills.

Parent's signature -------------------------------------------------------------------------

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