Child Safety7 min readReviewed April 23, 2026
Quick actions
- Listen first and thank the child for telling you.
- Avoid promising secrecy if safety or mandatory reporting may be involved.
- Document only what is necessary and follow school/agency protocol.
- Preserve information without forwarding explicit content.
What to say first
- I am glad you told me.
- You are not in trouble for asking for help.
- We are going to slow this down and get the right help.
- I may need to involve people whose job is to keep you safe.
What not to do
- Do not blame the child or ask why they did not report sooner.
- Do not investigate beyond your role.
- Do not contact the suspected offender yourself.
- Do not ask the child to send explicit images or videos to you.
- Do not forward suspected child sexual abuse material by email, text, or chat.
Information to preserve
- Platform or app name.
- Username, display name, profile link, phone number, email, or payment handle.
- Dates, times, and a short description of what happened.
- Screenshots of non-explicit messages when permitted by policy and law.
- Names of staff or guardians notified and report numbers received.
Escalation and reporting
Follow local mandatory reporting obligations and school policy. Immediate danger belongs with emergency services or local police. Suspected child sexual exploitation can be reported to NCMEC's CyberTipline.
Important note
This resource is for education and planning. It is not legal advice, clinical advice, or a substitute for agency policy, school policy, legal counsel, emergency services, or trained investigative support.