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December 2, 2024
“Should I talk to my kids about human trafficking?”
While it can feel scary to tackle this subject, arming ourselves with knowledge is a key defence against exploitation. In fact, experts recommend discussing safety early and often, using age-appropriate language. Families can play a vital role in preventing human trafficking through open communication and education.
Use our “7 Days of Conversation Starters," which is divided by age. Choose the most suitable conversation starter for your family, or consider separate discussions for large age gaps between children.
And if something concerning arises during your discussion, stay calm and maintain trust with your child. Take a break if needed and return to the topic later after you've decided on an informed response. Also, keep these 5 principles in mind:
| Day & Topic | Goal | What to say... |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1: What is human trafficking? | Define using a simple story. | "Sometimes, bad people trick or force others to do things they don’t want to do, like work for no money or do something dangerous. This is human trafficking. Can you think of a time when someone made you do something that you didn’t want to do and made you feel uncomfortable or unsafe?” This article from the HuffPost is a great resource to prepare you for this conversation. |
| Day 2: Identifying potential risks | Role-play safe and unsafe secrets. | “Let's talk about secrets! Some secrets are fun, like surprises for someone's birthday. But some secrets can be bad, like if someone asks you to keep a secret that makes you feel scared or uncomfortable. Someone who asks you to keep an unsafe secret is an unsafe person. It's important to tell a grown-up you trust about those secrets so we can help you stay safe. Can you think of some more examples of good secrets versus bad secrets?" |
| Day 3: Online safety | Explain the importance of keeping personal information private. | Despite parents using privacy controls, with the constant influx of new apps and games, visits to friends or even school internet access, our kids’ can still be exposed to risks online. Teach your child to keep personal information private using this conversation starter:
"Let's talk about staying safe online! Imagine you're online, and someone you don't know in real life asks where you live. What should you do?” “There are a few bad people online who pretend to be kids to try to trick kids. Never tell someone you don’t know in real life where you live and other personal information. Can you think of other types of personal information?” (e.g. name, phone number, school, sports team, etc.) |
| Day 4: Healthy relationships and boundaries | Practice saying "no" in different scenarios. | After teaching your child the correct names for their body parts, grab a hula hoop or create a circle around your child with a rope, string or tape.
“This is like your personal boundary, and your private parts (areas covered by a bathing suit) are inside that personal space, aren’t they? If someone crosses your boundary–maybe they want to hug you or maybe they ask you to do something that makes you feel uncomfortable–like a gut uh-oh feeling–say ‘No, I don’t want to do that.’ Don’t be afraid of hurting their feelings. If they really care about you, they’ll respect your boundaries. And remember, no one should see or touch your private parts unless you’re hurt there and need help, or are at the doctor’s office with your parent. Let’s roleplay and practice saying NO when I put my foot or hand across the line!” |
| Day 5: Seeking help | Identify trusted adults and safe spaces. | “You can always come to me if you feel that “uh oh” feeling, or if you’re scared or worried. Or if you think a friend needs help. You won’t be in trouble and you’re not tattling. I’m here to help you. Who are some other trusted adults that you would feel safe to talk to?” |
| Day 6: Community awareness | Identify community superheroes. | "There are people in our community who help keep us safe, just like superheroes! Who are our community superheroes?” (e.g. police, firefighters, nurses, teachers, anti-trafficking organizations, etc.) |
| Day 7: Empowerment and prevention | Encourage personal strengths and self-confidence. | "You are your own unique person and that is amazing. We all excel in our own way. What do you like most about yourself?” (adapted from the Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline) |
| Day & Topic | Goal | What to say... |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1: What is human trafficking? | Discuss human trafficking and statistics in your country. | “Did you know that there are people right now in our country who are being treated unfairly and forced to do things they don't want to do? ‘Traffickers don’t always look like what we think "bad guys" should look like. They can seem friendly, kind and like a good person...like a friend or someone we look up to.
However, that is how they convince someone to do things for them, so they can make money. Traffickers don't care about the victim's happiness; they often hurt people, make them work for little or no money, and make them do things they don't want to do.’” Truckers Against Trafficking Play a game of true or false or fill-in-the-blank, using age-appropriate statistics from here and myth-busting here on page 4.
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| Day 2: Identifying potential risks | Identify red flags online and in person. | “What are some signs that someone might be trying to trick or force you into doing something you don't want to do?"
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| Day 3: Online safety | Discuss privacy settings on devices. | "Privacy settings in apps and websites are like shields that protect our personal information. Just like a video game character uses shields for safety, we should use privacy settings to stay safe online. What kinds of things can we do to make sure our online shields, or privacy settings, are working properly?"
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| Day 4: Healthy relationships and boundaries | Discuss consent and peer pressure. | "It's important to both respect others' boundaries and for others to respect your boundaries. Healthy relationships don’t involve pressuring people into doing things they’re uncomfortable with. Can you think of examples of what respecting boundaries looks like vs not respecting boundaries?"
Respecting Boundaries:
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| Day 5: Seeking help | Practice assertive communication techniques. | "If you ever feel unsafe, are being made to do things you don’t want to do, or feel like you don’t have a choice, I want you to tell me. In some situations, it can be completely normal to feel ashamed or embarrassed. But you won’t be in trouble with me, and I’m here to support you. What might you say if something happened?”
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| Day 6: Community awareness | Discuss labour trafficking and fair trade practices. | “Labor trafficking is when someone forces another person to work when they don’t want to, either for very little or no money. It happens in both our country and other countries. One of the ways we can make a difference is to only buy from companies that guarantee they don’t traffick people in making their stuff. We call this fair trade. What are ways you can find out if what you’re buying is fair trade?”
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| Day 7: Empowerment and prevention | Discuss the importance of being an ally. | "Being an ally means supporting others and standing up for what's right. How can you be an ally to your friends and classmates?"
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| Day & Topic | Goal | What to say... |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1: What is human trafficking? | Analyze common trafficking scenarios. | Scenario 1:
Jess is a 15-year-old who is active on social media when a stranger named Max messages her with a compliment. They begin privately messaging each other, and Max seems to listen and genuinely care, so Jess starts telling him personal things. Jess feels flattered when Max flirts with her, and he gradually introduces sexual topics. He pressures Jess into sending a nude photo, and then blackmails her. She feels forced to do things she doesn’t want to make Max money. Scenario 2: Aiden is a 16-year-old teen who receives a DM (direct message) from Amber, a modelling scout, asking if he’s ever thought about modeling. Flattered, he messages her back, and eventually the modeling scout offers him a job making great money in the city. She even offers to pay for his plane ticket. When he arrives in the city, Amber puts him in a tricky situation where he is taken advantage of while she records it. She also tricks him into giving her his passport and ID, so he can’t fly home. She exploits him, and he feels trapped. Feeling like it’s his fault for getting into this situation, Aiden is too embarrassed to reach out for help. How did the trafficker trick Jess and Aiden?
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| Day 2: Identifying potential risks | Explore common recruitment tactics. | "How do you think traffickers might use the Internet to lure teens?"
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| Day 3: Online safety | Review online safety guidelines. | “How much personal info do you think is too much to share on social media?
Do you ever chat with people online who you have never met in real life? Would you ever meet someone in real life that you met online? Do you have your social media accounts set to private for your protection?” (questions selected from Deliver Fund)
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| Day 4: Healthy relationships and boundaries | Identify characteristics of healthy relationships. | "What are some signs of a respectful and trusting relationship?"
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| Day 5: Seeking help | Create a personal safety plan. | "Let's work together to create a safety plan that includes who you can call, where you can go, and what you can do if you ever feel unsafe or in danger."
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| Day 6: Community awareness | Look into and discuss local organizations. | "What anti-trafficking organizations are active in our community? How can we support their work?" |
| Day 7: Empowerment and prevention | Create an awareness campaign or event. | "Let's brainstorm ideas for how you can raise awareness about human trafficking and how we can help prevent it."
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| Day & Topic | Goal | What to say... |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1: What is human trafficking? | Define sex trafficking. | “Sex trafficking is when a person is [forced], tricked or manipulated to sell their body for sex to make money for someone else.” Covenant House Toronto
What does it mean to be forced, tricked or manipulated? What are some reasons why they can’t just leave?
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| Day 2: Identifying potential risks | Discuss vulnerabilities and risks. | “What do you think makes someone vulnerable to being trafficked?”
Anyone can be trafficked. Traffickers are experts at sussing out vulnerabilities and appearing to meet needs to gain trust. Vulnerabilities include feeling unsafe, low self-esteem, living in an unstable family or home, and trauma–and these things can happen to anyone. Being educated and aware of how it happens can equip you to protect yourself. |
| Day 3: Online safety | Discuss the permanence of online interactions. | "Once you share something online, it's there forever. How can this impact your future, and what steps can you take to maintain a positive digital footprint?"
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| Day 4: Healthy relationships and boundaries | Analyze power dynamics and control in relationships. | "How can an imbalance of power in a relationship lead to manipulation and exploitation? What are some red flags to be aware of?"
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| Day 5: Seeking help | Create a personal safety plan. | "Let's work together to create a safety plan that includes who you can call, where you can go, and what you can do if you ever feel unsafe or in danger."
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| Day 6: Community awareness | Brainstorm ways to spread awareness in your community. | "What actions can we take as a family to raise awareness about human trafficking in our community, and how can we support organizations that are countering it?"
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| Day 7: Empowerment and prevention | Explore career paths related to countering human trafficking. | "What careers could make a difference in countering human trafficking and supporting survivors?”
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Now that you’re equipped, remember to talk early and often, tailoring your talking points to your kids’ ages. Most importantly, maintain open communication and be a safe, supportive place for your kids.
You can empower your kids to recognize risks, seek help and make a difference in countering human trafficking.
Sources:
Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline, Covenant House Toronto, Deliver Fund, Exodus Road, SOS Responds, Truckers Against Trafficking, USA Department of Homeland Security
