Safeguarding Children: Protecting More Than Feelings

Safeguarding Children: Protecting More Than Feelings

At Wild Hearts Creative, our mission is to help children explore and express their feelings through creativity, conversation and connection.

But whenever we create opportunities for children to share what is happening in their inner world, we must also remember something incredibly important:

Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility.

Whether you are a parent, grandparent, teacher, teaching assistant, social worker or another trusted adult, we all have a collective responsibility to help keep children safe.

Why We Can’t Afford to Look Away

During my Early Childhood Studies degree, I spent an entire year studying child protection. Every Monday, for around two hours, we explored safeguarding in depth and learned about the many different ways children can experience abuse and neglect, as well as the devastating consequences when adults fail to act.

I can still remember where I sat in those lectures.

They were challenging, emotional and, at times, heartbreaking. But they taught me something that has stayed with me throughout my career: we cannot shy away from uncomfortable conversations if we truly want to protect children.

Those lectures taught me that safeguarding isn’t about expecting the worst in people. It’s about being willing to ask difficult questions, notice when something doesn’t feel right and act in the best interests of a child.

Since those university days, I have had occasions where I have needed to raise safeguarding concerns while working with children and families. Those moments are never easy, but safeguarding is not about proving that harm has occurred. It is about noticing when something doesn’t feel right, following the appropriate procedures and ensuring concerns are shared with the right people.

Most concerns will have an innocent explanation. But if speaking up helps protect even one child, it is always worth asking the question.

Understanding the different forms of abuse

Safeguarding is not about becoming suspicious of everyone around us. It is about remaining aware, staying curious and recognising when a child may need help.

Physical abuse

Physical abuse involves deliberately causing harm to a child. Signs may include unexplained injuries, repeated bruising or burns, injuries that don’t match the explanation given, or a child appearing fearful of certain adults or situations.

Emotional abuse

Emotional abuse is the persistent maltreatment of a child that affects their emotional wellbeing and self-worth. It may involve rejection, humiliation, intimidation, constant criticism or exposing a child to frightening situations. Children may become withdrawn, anxious or show significant changes in behaviour.

Sexual abuse

Sexual abuse occurs when a child is forced, persuaded or manipulated into sexual activity, whether through physical contact or non-contact acts such as exposure to sexual material or inappropriate conversations. Warning signs vary widely and no single indicator confirms abuse.

Neglect

Neglect is the ongoing failure to meet a child’s basic physical or emotional needs. This may include inadequate food, clothing, supervision, medical care, shelter or emotional support. Children experiencing neglect may appear consistently hungry, tired or have unmet health needs.

Peer-on-peer abuse

Children can also experience harm from other children. This may include bullying, physical aggression, harmful sexual behaviour, coercion, emotional abuse or online abuse. It should never be dismissed as “just children being children.”

Abuse linked to faith or belief

In some situations, abuse may be connected to faith or belief, including harmful practices carried out in the name of culture or religion. As with all safeguarding concerns, the child’s welfare must always come first.

Online and technology-facilitated abuse

Today’s children spend increasing amounts of time online. Technology can unfortunately be used to groom, exploit, bully or manipulate young people through social media, gaming platforms, messaging apps or the sharing of images. Helping children stay safe online is now an essential part of safeguarding.

No single sign proves that abuse is taking place, and many children experiencing harm show very few outward signs. It is often a pattern of concerns, rather than one isolated incident, that should prompt us to seek advice or take action.

If a child makes a disclosure

One of the most important things we can do is know how to respond if a child tells us something worrying.

If a child begins to disclose abuse or another safeguarding concern:

• Stay calm and listen carefully.
• Allow them to speak in their own words.
• Thank them for telling you and reassure them that they have done the right thing by speaking up
• Never promise to keep it a secret.
• Avoid asking leading or investigative questions.
• Make an accurate record of what was said as soon as possible.
• Follow your organisation’s safeguarding procedures or seek advice from the appropriate agencies if you believe a child may be at risk.

Our role is to listen, support and report concerns appropriately – not to investigate.

Children’s artwork: be curious, not conclusive

As someone who believes deeply in the power of creativity, I know that art can become a window into a child’s thoughts and feelings.

Sometimes children communicate through drawings, painting or imaginative play long before they are able to explain things in words.

However, it is important not to over-interpret creative work. A picture alone should never be viewed as evidence of abuse or neglect.

Instead, consider the wider context. Creativity can be a powerful way for children to communicate, but it should always be considered alongside their words, behaviour and overall presentation – not interpreted in isolation.

The goal is not to analyse children’s drawings, but to remain curious, compassionate and prepared to listen if a child is trying to communicate something important.

We should never be afraid to ask questions

One experience that has stayed with me involved a parent who asked questions about a new member of staff working with children.

I remember thinking, good.

Not because there was any reason for concern, but because that parent was doing exactly what we hope all adults will do: taking an active interest in their child’s safety and feeling confident enough to ask respectful questions.

Safeguarding is not about making accusations or jumping to conclusions. It is about creating a culture where openness, transparency and accountability are welcomed.

As parents and professionals, we should never feel embarrassed to ask how children are being kept safe, what checks are in place or who is caring for them. Equally, those working with children should understand that these questions come from a place of wanting the very best for young people.

In my view, asking thoughtful questions is not a sign of distrust. It is a sign that we take safeguarding seriously.

Protecting the whole child

At Wild Hearts Creative, our resources are designed to help children explore feelings, build confidence and find safe ways to express themselves.

But protecting children’s emotional wellbeing can never be separated from protecting their overall welfare.

When children begin to open up through conversation, play or creativity, they need adults who are ready to notice, to listen and, when necessary, to act.

Every child deserves more than to have their feelings heard. They deserve to feel safe, valued, protected and loved.