Three Questions, One Next Step, readable version
Parent reads a pretend card. Child may point, speak, act, pass, or ask for help. This is practice, not a test, and it never requires a real disclosure.
How to Play Together
- Choose one pretend situation together. Skip any card that feels too close to real life.
- The parent reads or shortens the card. The child may point, speak, act, pass, or ask for help.
- Follow the questions in order. If the card already answers a question, notice that answer together before moving on.
- Stop the practice if something real comes up. Listen first, thank your child, and get the right support.
- At the end, talk about one trusted adult or opening sentence, then try another pretend situation or return to the article.
Parent Notes
- These cards are practice, not an assessment. Your child never has to disclose a real experience or prove that a feeling is big.
- Keep the roles clear. You keep the pace calm and make it safe to stop. Your child chooses how to respond and may pass at any time.
- A real safety disclosure ends the activity. Stay with your child and get the emergency, medical, mental-health, or school support they need.
- Wanting help is enough. Repetition changes the plan, but it is never a threshold your child must meet before asking an adult.
- This activity does not assess or diagnose risk and does not replace emergency, medical, mental-health, or school support.
Urgent mental-health support: If your child talks about suicide, self-harm, or harming someone else, stay with them while you get support. In the United States, call, text, or chat 988. For an immediate police, fire, or ambulance emergency, call 911.
All pretend situations and preset routes
- The tower: You worked a long time on a block tower. Someone bumped the table, and it fell.
- The game: Two friends changed the game rules after you joined. You feel left out.
- The bus seat: A child keeps blocking the seat and telling you that you can't sit there. It has happened three days this week. The situation says it has happened three days, so the pattern answer is already known. Question 2 · Does it keep happening or feel hard to stop? is already Yes or maybe. Tell a trusted adult. Make a plan together. If it happens at school, choose a school adult who can help.
- The scary message: Someone sends a message that makes you feel threatened or afraid. The situation says the message feels threatening or frightening, so the safety answer is already known. Question 1 · Is anyone unsafe right now? is already Yes or maybe. Move away if you can. Get a trusted adult now. In an emergency, an adult calls 911.
All three questions and routes
- Question 1 · Is anyone unsafe right now? Is anyone hurt, threatened, trapped, touched in an unwanted way, or afraid that someone may be harmed right now?
- Yes or maybe: Move away if you can. Get a trusted adult now. In an emergency, an adult calls 911.
- No: Go to Question 2.
- I'm not sure: Treat not sure as a reason to get a trusted adult now.
- Question 2 · Does it keep happening or feel hard to stop? Has it happened again, is it getting worse, or does handling it alone feel like too much?
- Yes or maybe: Tell a trusted adult. Make a plan together. If it happens at school, choose a school adult who can help.
- No: Go to Question 3.
- I want help anyway: Tell a trusted adult. Wanting help is enough.
- Question 3 · What one step feels possible? If this is a one-time snag and you feel safe, what would you like to try with an adult nearby?
- Try again: Rebuild, retry, or choose a smaller first step.
- Use words: Say what happened or ask clearly for what you need.
- Take a pause: Step away, settle your body, and decide later.
- Ask for help: Bring in a trusted adult now.
Ordinary supported close
Your next step fits this moment: Feelings don't have to be small before you can ask for help. You can always tell me. We can figure out the next step together.
Choose another pretend situation to practice again, or return to the full parent guide.
Urgent close
Get a trusted adult now: You stopped after the safety question. Move away if possible and get a trusted adult now. If this is an emergency requiring police, fire, or ambulance help, an adult calls 911.
Disclosure stop: Thank you for telling me. You are not in trouble. I am going to help. A real disclosure ends this practice activity.
Reflection: Which question helped us most? Who are two trusted adults you could tell? What words could you use to begin?
This practice does not assess, diagnose, or replace emergency, medical, mental-health, or school support.
Read the Full Parent Guide