Safety · Ages 8–12
Secrets can feel different
Perhaps you know what someone is getting for their birthday. Keeping the surprise secret for a little while can be exciting. But a secret can also make you frightened, sad or worried. If someone asks you to hide something that happened to your body, or something that makes you feel unsafe, you can tell an adult you trust. You can get help even if you promised to keep it secret.
Perhaps you know what someone is getting for their birthday. Keeping the surprise secret for a little while can be exciting. But a secret can also make you frightened, sad or worried. If someone asks you to hide something that happened to your body, or something that makes you feel unsafe, you can tell an adult you trust. You can get help even if you promised to keep it secret.
01
A fun surprise
Perhaps you know what someone is getting for their birthday, or you are practising a song to surprise someone. Then you keep something secret for a short while, until the surprise is revealed. If something you have been told to keep secret worries you, you can talk to an adult you trust, even if others say it is only a surprise.
02
A secret that makes you worried
Perhaps someone has done something to your body and tells you to keep it secret. Or someone threatens to become angry if you tell. A secret like this can make you frightened, sad or give you a tummy ache. You can tell an adult you trust. You can also ask for help if you are unsure what you feel or what happened.
03
You can tell even if someone said you must not
A promise to keep something secret must not stop you from getting help. This is true even if someone you like says you will ruin something by telling. An adult or another child may have done something that feels difficult to talk about. You can begin by saying, 'Someone asked me to keep something secret, and it makes me worried.' You do not have to explain everything at once. The adult should help you stay safe and work out what happens next. It is not your responsibility to protect other people from the consequences of what they have done.
04
If the first adult does not help
If the first adult is busy, misunderstands or does not help, you can tell another one. It could be a teacher, school nurse or an adult in your family. You can show them a message if that is easier than saying it aloud. If you are frightened or feel unsafe and need help, you can also call the Norwegian child helpline on 116 111. The call is free. Adults are responsible for helping you with what happens next.
Want to talk about it?
You can ask someone you trust about anything you have noticed or are worried about. A school nurse or doctor can also help if symptoms affect everyday life.
Help me explainSources and further information
Personal health concerns require assessment by a healthcare professional. Some source documents are in Norwegian.