The Goal of TAT can be misleading

Many parents are misled about the primary objective of TAT, being told it is just a "personal safety" program.  The author of the program, Committee for Children, designates TAT as "child abuse prevention".  Chart A shows by grade level how many lessons are in each unit, demonstrating that the primary emphasis of this curriculum is on preventing child sexual abuse (Touching Safety).  While there is nothing wrong with this goal, parents should not be misled by some who say it's just a "safety program," inferring that it focuses on fire safety, bike safety, etc.  Those are simply "warm-up" exercises to pave the way for the Touching Safety modules that follow.

Chart A: Number of Lessons in each Grade Level

Pre-K / Kindergarten Samples

Example. "After looking at picture of boy with hands on his hips – Let’s see how the boy in our story today used the Touching Rule and the Safety Steps.  This is Carl.  He is with his Uncle Dan.  They were sitting together on the couch watching TV, and Uncle Dan began touching Carl’s private parts through his clothes."

Video. “Joey Learns the Touching Rule” video.  Motorcycle riding babysitter offers little Joey a ride if he plays the touching game.  I’ll put my hand down the front of your pants and then you put your hand down the front of my pants.

1st Grade

Lesson 9. "Let’s see how the boy in our story used the Touching Rule and the Safety Steps. This is Alex. He was visiting his aunt and uncle. Alex and his uncle were watching television and eating popcorn. His uncle told Alex that he had a special game they could play. He called it the ‘touching game.’ He said, ‘Let’s take off our clothes and touch each other’s private body parts.’ Alex knew this game wasn’t safe. So, in a strong voice he said, ‘No, I don’t want to do that.’ Then he got off the couch and left the room. When he got home, he told his mom and dad what had happened. Alex’s parents were glad that he said ‘no’ to his uncle. They were also glad that Alex told them what his uncle asked him to do."

Lesson 10. "Rosa’s foster mom has a friend who sometimes takes care of Rosa when her foster mom works at night. He used to read her a story and then tuck her into bed. Last week, when he stayed with Rosa, he reached under her nightgown and tried to touch her private body parts. Rosa said ‘no,’ but he did it anyway. He told her that the touching was their little secret and that she shouldn’t tell anyone."

2nd Grade

Lesson 9. "Let's see how the girl in our story today used the Touching Rule and Safety Steps.  This is Robin and her older cousin Laura.  Laura wanted to play a game with Robin where Robin touched her private parts and then she touched Robin's private parts.  Robin knew the touching rule and didn't want to play Laura's game.  So she said, 'No, I don't want to play that game.'  After she said this, she went home and told her mom what happened."

Lesson 10. "This is Ian. He is worried because he has a problem and he’s trying to decide whether to tell someone about it. Last week, his mom’s boyfriend came to Ian’s room when Ian was getting ready for bed. He started to give Ian a hug and then he put his hand inside the back of Ian’s pajama bottoms. He warned Ian not to tell his mom about what happened. He said they should keep it a secret."

3rd Grade

Lesson. "This is Kerry.  She is worried about something that happened to her last week when she spent the night with one of her friends.  Her friend's older brother came into the bedroom, put his hand under the covers of the bed Kerry was sleeping in, and touched her vagina (private parts).  She said, "Stop that!" in an assertive voice.  He stopped, but then he told her to keep it a secret.  Kerry is wondering what she should do.
Question: How do think Kerry felt when her friend's brother touched her vagina..."

Puppet Examples

Some stories are followed up with several questions, and/or role plays using a puppet.  For example, while holding a puppet, the teacher reads...

Example 1. "Let's pretend this puppet is someone you don't know.  You are in the restroom at a restaurant and this person starts to help you zip up your pants and touches your private parts."
Puppet says, "Let me help you zip up your pants."
[Child responds by practicing Safety Steps].
Then there's a discussion about how the child responded.

Example 2. "Let's pretend the puppet is a friend of your family.  When he gives you a hug, he starts to rub your bottom through your clothes...."

Example 3. Using the puppet, "let’s pretend you are at the store.  A friendly looking man offers to buy you some candy.  He starts to stroke you on the back and bottom."

Example 4. "Let’s pretend that this puppet is a friend of your family, and when you are in the bath he comes in and tries to touch your private parts."

Example 5. "Let’s pretend that the puppet is a fried of your family.  When he gives you a hug, he starts to rub your bottom through your clothes."