Content

This program is divided into age-appropriate vignettes for grades: K-1, 2-4, and 5-6. The content for both grades K-1 and 2-4 includes a cartoon with the following synopsis:

Chester is a cat with a marvelous tail. Because his tail is so wonderful, all his friends want to touch it. Chester uses his "Important" voice to tell them to leave his tail alone and, in the process, introduces the primary concepts of this program:

1. My body belongs to me.
2. I can decide who touches me.
3. I can say "no" to touching I don't like.

Next, Chester introduces the students to his friends, who share with viewers some uncomfortable situations where adults or older teens take advantage of them. The vignettes include situations that show how offenders involved the children in abuse and how the children responded, and each segment ends with a conversation between the child survivor and their concerned and loving parent.

As the vignettes wrap up, we see parents talking to their children about sexual abuse: talking about different kinds of touching, teaching children that they are in charge of their bodies, permitting them to say no to touches that are confusing or that they don’t like, letting their children know that talking about what happened is a good idea and that sexual abuse is never the child’s fault. We learn a sensitive way to respond to an abused child. The ending reinforces the positive, loving side of touching as we see many warm touches between parents and children. Finally, this program edition includes newly introduced vignettes on social media and texting safety, with a review vignette as an optional feature.

This is where you, as parents or guardians, come in. Continue the conversation. We believe it is important to talk with your children about the concepts outlined by Chester above. Practice safety skills with your children at home. This should include online safety as well. Use the correct names for body parts and clarify private parts of their bodies. Let your children know they have the right to say “no” to touching they don’t want or that makes them uncomfortable. They will learn that sometimes others don’t want to be hugged or touched by them. The concept of “consent” is introduced in this series. Identify within your family or community a “safe person” or trusted adult (most likely you) to confide in if they are uncomfortable with someone’s touch. Finally, in your role as a trusted adult, it is important that if your child is a survivor of sexual abuse, you are clear (with them and yourself) that it is not their fault if they were unable to prevent or stop the abuse.

Parents play a crucial role in reinforcing the concepts we present in this program. We encourage you not to over-emphasize the sensationalized threat from strangers. Indeed, it is reasonable, safe, and important for children to avoid interacting with people they don’t know who haven’t been approved by their families. It is a sad and well-documented fact, however, that most incidents of sexual abuse of children are perpetrated by someone known to them, often a close and trusted family member, friend, member of clergy, or youth leader.