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Teaching Children when it's Safe to Keep a Secret and when it's not!

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I have a secret! Do I keep it? - Teach kids the easiest way to know if a secret is safe to keep or not!

A great poem that empowers children to decide for themselves whether or not a secret is safe to tell or not.

EJ Thornton wrote it for her kids because the safety lessons they learned at school were confusing to them. She came up with a very easy way for them to tell and now that they're grown. Many people have since told her that they're going to teach their children this because it makes so much sense, is easy to learn and the kids say that it has helped them through making the right choice several times in their lives.

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Dedication

This poem is dedicated to three of the greatest kids in the world - Capri, Kyleah and JaShawn - who taught me the best way to teach them about secrets!

Table of Contents

  1. Dedication
  2. There are two kinds of secrets...
  3. The best way...
  4. A good secret...
  5. These are the secrets that you'll want to keep...
  6. Bad secrets...
  7. Did you see something scary?
  8. The challenge...
  9. Make a bad secret go away...
  10. You're so smart, you learned it already!
  11. Fabulous anti-bully books on Amazon.com
  12. Other books by EJ Thornton
  13. What did you think about the poem?
  14. My other squidoo lenses
  15. My squidoo lenses for teaching kids...

There are two kinds of secrets...

There are two kinds of secrets that you need to know...

One is your friend and one is your foe!

The best way...

The best way to tell you,
how to tell them apart
is to trust in your instincts
and follow your heart.

I wonder if you're worried
about what I will say.
Please trust me, it's easy
to learn it this way.

A good secret...

A secret that's your friend -
and I wish they all were -
feels so good on the inside
that your heart could just purr.

A party you're planning
to surprise your best friend.
Or a present you're making
for grandma to send.

These are the secrets that you'll want to keep...

These are the secrets
that you'll want to keep.
Because they're so fun,
that your heart wants to leap!

Bad secrets...

But a secret that's hurtful
is the kind that's your foe.
It makes you feel confused,
and scared and mad and low.

You can't keep this kind,
if it makes you feel sad.
These secrets you tell!
These secrets are BAD!!!

Did you see something scary?

You saw a big bully
take your buddy's lunch money.
Your friend was left crying.
The meanie thought it was funny.

The bad boy threatened you,
"You better not tell!"
You're scared now, you're mad.
Your stomach's not well.

The challenge...

You know you should tell,
but now you're afraid
the bully could hurt you.
A challenge was made!

You need to tell someone -
I tell you - you must!
Find a teacher or parent -
An adult you can trust.

Make a bad secret go away...

To make a bad secret
just go away
It has to be told
- not tomorrow - TODAY!

What really hurts you
is the fear that's inside.
Once the secret's let out,
it has no place to hide!!!

And the bully whose secret's
been let out of the bag
gets dealt with by grown ups -
you bet - he won't brag!

A secret's a secret,
but there are some you can't keep.
Like the kind forced upon you,
by some big ol' creep.

You're so smart, you learned it already!

The others are the kind
that make you happy inside -
You keep them as long
as your smile is wide!

See - you've learned it already!
You see the trend!
A bad secret's your foe.
A good secret's your friend!

Fabulous anti-bully books on Amazon.com

empower your children!

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Other books by EJ Thornton

other books by the author of this poem

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What did you think about the poem?

  • KM9999999 Dec 16, 2011 @ 7:44 pm | delete
    Really nice for the kiddos.
  • Judy Jul 8, 2010 @ 3:10 am | delete
    I have been in child care all my life and know the importance of teaching children about secrets. I am looking on line for help for my grandchildren. Their parents are going through a divorce and they are being forced not to tell the secrets of what is going on in the caregiver's home. I know this is too heavy a burden for them and is confusing them about what they can/can't share with a parent. It isn't so much that I want them to tell what is going on as I don't want them to be burdened with the secrets.
  • J_Richard_Knapp Feb 12, 2010 @ 12:17 pm | delete
    The poem is heart-felt and sincere!
  • Megan Jun 10, 2009 @ 11:00 am | delete
    This is a wonderful poem to help children tell the difference between telling vs. tattling. I work for a child abuse and domestic violence program and we are always looking for ways to encourage children to not be scared to tell a safe person about a bad secret they were threatened to keep. Thank you, EJ for creating this much needed poem to share with all children!
  • jccjcc Jun 10, 2009 @ 12:16 am | delete
    It can be confusing... we tell our kids not to tattle, or we stress that the truth should always be told no matter what. This little book really helps clarify when it's okay to keep a secret, and when a secret should be shared with a grownup, in a way that's so simple, obvious, and intuitive that even a child understands. I plan to share the secret of this great little book with my kids and grandkids!
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