Early learning services play a vital role in supporting the health, wellbeing, and safety of young children during their most formative years. Tamariki aged 3–5 are naturally trusting and dependent on adults to keep them safe. While this is developmentally appropriate, it can also increase vulnerability. Many parents and kaiako want to teach children personal safety skills but feel unsure how to do this in an age-appropriate, calm, and empowering way.
We Can Keep Safe was developed to meet this need.
We Can Keep Safe is a research-based personal safety education programme for children aged 3–5, delivered in early learning services by trained presenters. The programme teaches foundational personal safety skills and shared language, while actively involving whānau and kaiako so learning is reinforced across home and centre environments.
We Can Keep Safe presents personal safety as a core part of health and wellbeing. By providing a starting point and shared vocabulary, the programme supports open communication between children and adults and helps children recognise unsafe situations and seek help from trusted adults.
A whole-community approach
We Can Keep Safe is delivered over six weekly sessions, beginning with an initial session for whānau, caregivers, and kaiako. This session explains what will be covered with tamariki, addresses questions or concerns, and emphasises the importance of adults reinforcing safety messages.
Parents and caregivers are encouraged to attend sessions with their children where possible. Resources are provided to support ongoing conversations at home, helping to normalise discussions about bodies, feelings, and safety.
Following the introductory whānau session, children participate in five weekly, play-based sessions. Learning is delivered through songs, games, drama, puppetry, role-play, and storytelling, reflecting how young children learn best.
Sessions cover:
Language for talking about bodies
“I am the boss of my body”
Touching rules for private parts
How to recognise feelings and emotions
How to tell and get help if something feels unsafe
These simple but important messages are taught gently and revisited over time, building confidence without fear or shame.
A long-standing and trusted programme
We Can Keep Safe has been delivered in Aotearoa since 1995 by HELP Auckland, an organisation established in 1982 to support survivors of sexual violence through counselling, prevention, and education. For more than 30 years, HELP Auckland has delivered We Can Keep Safe to early learning services across the Auckland region, currently reaching around 50 preschools each year.
The programme is well regarded for its developmentally appropriate approach and is often requested by early learning services when there are concerns about sexualised or boundary-crossing behaviour among children. Teaching all children consistent messages about bodies, boundaries, and appropriate behaviour at the same time supports shared understanding and assists with stopping concerning behaviour in a supportive, child-centred way.
At times, children may disclose abuse during or following the programme. Helplines from both HELP Auckland and Tautoko Mai mean early learning services can access immediate professional guidance about how to respond appropriately and what steps to take next, ensuring children’s safety and wellbeing remain the priority.
Delivery through strong partnerships
In 2024, HELP Auckland supported Tautoko Mai to introduce We Can Keep Safe in the Bay of Plenty, with an initial pilot funded by Tauranga City Council. This marked the first time the programme was delivered in the region and responded to strong local interest from early learning services seeking age‑appropriate personal safety education.
Tautoko Mai is a specialist organisation based in the Bay of Plenty that supports individuals, whānau, and communities affected by sexual harm. Alongside response and support services, Tautoko Mai has a strong focus on prevention, education, and early intervention, working closely with local schools, early learning services, and community partners. This made them a natural partner to deliver We Can Keep Safe locally, with a deep understanding of both child development and community needs.
Following the success of the pilot, delivery expanded. Since 2025, the Wright Family Foundation has generously funded We Can Keep Safe across both the Bay of Plenty and Waikato.
HELP Auckland continues to deliver We Can Keep Safe in Auckland, while working in close partnership with Tautoko Mai, who deliver the programme locally in the Bay of Plenty and Waikato. This partnership ensures fidelity to the original programme model, high‑quality delivery, and consistent safety messaging nationwide, while allowing the programme to be grounded in local relationships and expertise.
Enquire about the programme:
Auckland
Prevention services - HELP Auckland
0800 623 1700
Bay of Plenty and Waikato
Social Change and Prevention | Tautoko Mai
comms@tautokomai.co.nz
0800 227 233
