As many of your readers are adapting to become home-school teachers, they’re going to be doing everything from reading, colouring, singing, and dancing to help their children learn.

So, while we’re using this time to teach school lessons, why not teach life lessons, too.

The NSPCC’s PANTS campaign uses cartoons, songs, and drawings featuring Pantosaurus the Dinosaur to get children and parents talking PANTS and, as a result, help children to recognise the signs of sexual abuse in a child-friendly way.

But what are the PANTS Rules?

Pantosaurus helps to teach kids that: Privates are private; Always remember your body belongs to you; No means no; Talk about secrets that upset you; and Speak up, someone can help.

Pantosaurus has enabled parents and professionals across the country to start talking about child sexual abuse which, even as an adult, can seem like a daunting topic to comprehend.

Last year, Childline carried out an average of 12 counselling sessions every day with children who have been sexually exploited.

That’s why it is so important to talk about child sexual abuse, so our children know that it is never their fault – and if the unthinkable does happen, to help them understand that what is happening is wrong and that they don’t have to be afraid to tell someone.

It is a very exciting time at the NSPCC as we have launched our first crowdfunding campaign to produce a Pantosaurus story book.

The book is designed to help children revisit the PANTS story and understand it at their own pace.

We’re aiming to provide free copies for schools and NSPCC service centres, to help start the conversations to keep children safe from abuse, particularly sexual abuse. If you can help, please make a pledge, any amount will go towards making a huge difference.

To find out more, visit crowdfunder.co.uk/nspcc-pantosaurus-book

Helen Westerman

Head of Safeguarding in Communities at the NSPCC