Let's talk PANTS!
Talking PANTS teaches children important messages, like their body belongs to them and they should tell an adult if they're upset or worried.
Get together and singalong with Pantosaurus above to get the conversation started. Take our quiz below to test your PANTS knowledge and download our PANTS guides for more support.
So, let's do it, swipe across to learn what each letter of PANTS stands for.
Privates are Private.
Your underwear covers up your private parts and no one should ask to see or touch them. Sometimes a doctor, nurse or family members might have to. But they should always explain why, and ask you if it’s OK first.
Always remember your body belongs to you.
Your body belongs to you. No one should ever make you do things that make you feel embarrassed or uncomfortable. If someone asks to see or tries to touch you underneath your underwear say ‘NO’ – and tell someone you trust and like to speak to.
No means no.
No means no and you always have the right to say ‘no’ – even to a family member or someone you love. You’re in control of your body and the most important thing is how YOU feel. If you want to say ‘No’, it’s your choice.
Talk about secrets that upset you.
There are good and bad secrets. Good secrets can be things like surprise parties or presents for other people. Bad secrets make you feel sad, worried or frightened. You should tell an adult you trust about a bad secret straight away.
Speak up, someone can help.
Talk about stuff that makes you worried or upset. If you ever feel sad, anxious or frightened you should talk to an adult you trust. This doesn't have to be a family member. It can also be a teacher or a friend's parent – or even Childline.
Tips to talk PANTS for parents and carers
How and when to talk PANTS
You know your child better than anyone. And you'll know when they're ready and how much detail to go into. If you're not sure how to get started, watch our video to hear how other parents talked PANTS with their children. Keep scrolling across for more tips.
Conversations little and often
Don't view conversations about staying safe as a one-off. It's much better to have conversations little and often. This will help you to reinforce the key points, and to adapt the message as your child gets older.
Don't force the issue
Once you're ready to talk, you might find your child isn't. That's OK. The most important thing is to not force the issue. The last thing you want is for your child to feel it's a big deal.
Weave it into daily routine
Weaving simple conversations about staying safe into the daily routine is a great way to stop it feeling like a lecture. If it feels less weird for your child, it will feel much easier for you too.
Download your guide
We have a range of PANTS guides for parents, carers and children including guides in 5 different languages and guides for people with a disability.
Guide for children
Let Pantosaurus teach your child the important rules of PANTS so they can stay safe.
2MB
Guide for parents
A simple step-by-step guide to help you talk PANTS with your child and keep them safe.
3 MB
Guidance for foster carers
A custom-made guide to help you, as foster carers, talk PANTS with the children in care.
783 KB
How to talk about keeping safe
Not sure when to say what and how? We understand talking about keeping safe from sexual abuse might feel daunting. But it doesn't have to be.
1.46 MB
Why it's important to talk PANTS
Talking PANTS is just one way that - together - we can prevent child abuse.
596 KB
Your questions answered
When you start to talk PANTS, some questions are bound to crop up - from you and your child. This could help answer a few.
931 KB
Children with learning disabilities
This easy to read guide uses the word PANTS to help keep children safe from abuse, by teaching them that their body belongs to them.
1 MB
Guide for parents with a learning disability
An easy to read guide to help keep children safe from abuse. Teach your child to remember the word PANTS.
2 MB
Guide for parents of children with autism
This guide is written for parents of children with autism. It teaches how to help keep children safe from abuse by using the initials PANTS.
5 MB
Welsh guide for children
A simple way to help keep children safe from abuse by teaching them to remember the 5 rules that spell PANTS in Welsh.
1 MB
Welsh guide for parents
To help keep children safe from abuse, this guide uses the rules of PANTS to teach them that their body belongs to them in Welsh.
3 MB
Welsh guide for children with learning disabilities
This easy to read guide uses the word PANTS to help keep children safe from abuse, by teaching them that their body belongs to them in Welsh.
1 MB
Welsh guides for parents with learning disabilities
An easy to read guide to help keep children safe from abuse. Teach your child to remember the word PANTS in Welsh.
2 MB
Latvian guide for parents
A simple way to help keep children safe from abuse by teaching them to remember the 5 rules that spell PANTS un Latvian.
6 MB
Lithuanian guide for parents
A simple way to help keep children safe from abuse by teaching them to remember the 5 rules that spell PANTS in Lithuanian.
5 MB
Polish guide for parents
A simple way to help keep children safe from abuse by teaching them to remember the 5 rules that spell PANTS in Polish.
6 MB
Russian guide for parents
A simple way to help keep children safe from abuse by teaching them to remember the 5 rules that spell PANTS in Russian.
6 MB
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Help us keep children safe from abuse
If PANTS helped you, help us make sure we can continue our work to keep children safe from abuse.
Carol's story about talking PANTS
Mum Carol tells us why she wants all parents to talk PANTS after her and 6-year-old Mabel learned the Underwear Rule.
PANTS resources for schools and teachers
Underwear Rule resources include a lesson plan, teaching guidance, class activities, a 'talk PANTS' slide presentation and supporting information.
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