The What If Game - Song Tutorial
The My Body is My Body Programme is designed for children from 3 - 8 years olds.
How to use this programme:
Keep it fun -
The songs are fun, positive animations, introduced by a character called Cynthie, this should help you to keep the message simple. Sing along, do hand movements or dance, anything to make the message memorable.
Keep it simple -
Young children do not need to know any in depth details of abuse just give them simple rules:
1. Nobody should be hurting you
2. Nobody should be touching your private parts
3. Nobody should take photos of your private parts
4. If you have a problem tell somebody
5. Don’t keep secrets if someone is hurting you
6. Tell someone if you are being bullied
Keep it positive -
The main objective is to empower children so they feel positive about their bodies and safe in the knowledge that they have someone to talk to if there is a problem.
Cynthie’s Text from the video
Now we are going to play the “What If Game” and in this song we are going to learn what to do if a stranger tries to get you to go with them, or if somebody tries to touch your private parts .
Do you know where your private parts are? They are where your underwear or pants cover. Nobody should be touching your private parts apart from when you are very young, Mommy or Daddy will have to wash you there, but you’ll soon learn to do that for yourself. Maybe if you are sick or sore, Mommy or Daddy or a Doctor might have to put some medicine there, but apart from that nobody should ever be touching your private parts.
We are also going to learn what to do if someone in our own home or family makes you feel uncomfortable or tries to hurt you. All you’ve got to do in this game is say “NO” so I want you to shout out nice and loud.....
Song 3
The “What If" Game
Song Objectives
To teach children to say NO with authority
The 'What If' game can be applied to any situation that you may suspect is happening to a child. Use the game to give answers to difficult situations that they may not know how to get out of safely.
Examples.....
1. 'What If' someone knocks on the door and you are alone at home? What would you do?
a) Never open the door
b) Call a neighbour or relative if they won't go away
c) Call the police if you can't get any help and you are scared.
2. 'What If' a babysitter tries to touch your private parts.
a) Tell them NO then go and tell someone
b) Don’t keep it a secret even if they ask you to
Explaining Strangers to children
If you ask a group of children what a Stranger is - you may get 20 different answers such as:
a) A stranger is a bad person
b) Someone that will hurt you
c) Someone that gives you sweets
Children have many misconceptions as to what "Strangers" are.
We teach our children: “Don't talk to strangers"
"Don't get in a car with a stranger"
"Don't take sweets from a stranger"
But....we often forget to tell them what a stranger is.
So firstly we need to teach children What Is A Stranger ?
A Stranger is someone we don't know !
A Stranger can be
A Man or a Lady, someone old or young
Someone of any colour or social group
Not all strangers are bad people, and if someone that you love or trust introduces you to a stranger - that stranger can become a friend, BUT....unless someone you love and trust introduces you to a stranger you should never talk to them on your own.
In this digital age where information about children and their parents is readily available on the internet people can easily get to know the names of a child’s family members and may try and trick them into going with them. Tell them that even if the person knows a lot of things about them, if they don’t know them, they are a stranger and don’t go with them.
Give children examples of what lies some strangers may tell them for example:
a) Your Mummy asked me to pick you up from school as she is running late
b) I have lost my puppy, please could you come and help me look for it
c) I want to show you something really exciting, I promise I will bring you right back
Another rule is to never accept gifts from a stranger - no matter how nice the gift is.
The “What If” Game - Song Lyrics
We’re gonna play
The “What If” Game
There’s questions and answers for you
If you want to be a winner every time
This is what you’ve got to do
Say No !
Just say No !
What if, after school
A stranger tries to take you home
And they’re driving in a shiny new car
And they say “Hello ! You want a ride?”
Oh No, you’re a stranger
I won’t go for a ride in your car
Because my Mommy and Daddy told me
Never to go with someone I don’t know
I’d say No !!
Just say No !!
Now what if, you’re at home
And the babysitters looking after you
And they try to touch you under your clothes
What would you do?
You’d say No, babysitter
I don’t want you touching me there
Because those are my private parts
And my body don’t belong to you
I’d say No !!
Just say No !!
We are playing
The “What If” Game
There’s questions and answers for you If you want to be a winner every time This is what you’ve got to do
Say No !
Just say No !
Now what if, there’s someone
A friend or part of your family
And they touch you or hurt you
It makes you feel bad or uncomfortable What would you say?
You'd say NO !
Please don’t do that
I don’t like you touching me that way And though I really like you
Please don’t do that to me
Because I’m just little you see
I’d say No!
Just say No!
Say No!
Activities
1. You could play a game showing happy faces, sad faces, angry faces, funny faces, try and get the children to make as many different faces as you can and discuss feelings
2. You could get the children to draw faces about how they are feeling. Many children express their emotions more readily through drawing rather than talking.
Download Tutorial 3
Written and animated by Chrissy Sykes ©1989 Update 2017