Five Days of Action: Five Friends

Five Days of Action®

April 13-17, 2026

The Y’s top priority is the safety and well-being of the children in our care. At YMCAs across the country, staff and volunteers create a culture of safety through proven policies and practices to prevent abuse. Learn more about Child Protection at the Y.    

In addition to our policies and daily practices, every April, during Child Abuse Prevention Month, we engage our members, participants, and the broader community in the Five Days of Action—a week-long campaign designed to raise awareness and inspire adults to take action to protect children from sexual abuse.  

Registration for the 2026 campaign is open, and all youth-serving organizations are invited to participate! Organizations that register will receive regular updates about the campaign and access to campaign materials. 

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A Focus on Digital Safety in 2026

With the theme “Keeping Kids Safe in the Digital Space,” the 2026 Five Days of Action campaign will focus on child protection online and in other digital environments. From social media to online gaming to texting, these spaces are quickly evolving. It’s important that both kids and their caregivers understand the risks and red flags of abuse in the digital space, and how to guard against it.

The 2026 campaign will feature resources and tips from partner organizations that are experts in the field of abuse prevention, including Praesidium, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), Lauren’s Kids, and the National Children’s Alliance. 

We pledge to protect the children in our care and hope you will too! Click the link below to download a printable version of the 2026 Five Days of Action Pledge Card!

Recoginizing red flagsRecognizing Red Flags

Certain behaviors can signal risk for child sexual abuse and understanding them helps you act early to keep kids safe. This infographic shows what to watch for—whether the behavior may be low, moderate, or high risk—and these behaviors, or grooming, can show up both in person and in online situations. Visit nationalchildrensalliance.org/the-real-red-flags-of-grooming for more information on red flag behaviors from the National Children’s Alliance.

Staying on Top of Digital Trends

From apps to gaming, staying on top of digital trends can be overwhelming. NCMEC offers free resources to help trusted adults understand online risks—including sextortion and the growing use of generative AI—and talk with kids about staying safe. Check out the tip sheets below and be sure to explore the other NCMEC resources at ncmec.org/netsmartz/resources.

Staying on top of digital trends

Monitoring Digital Use

Did you know 1 in 5 children who use a digital device will be sexually solicited online? Technology changes fast, and kids are targeted on the apps, games, and sites they love. Having a Cyber P.L.A.N., monitoring device use, and teaching online safety rules can help keep your child safe. Lauren’s Kids has provided the following resources by age group to help you learn how to set boundaries, teach good cyber habits, and protect your family online.

Other Resources

Together, we can help prevent child sexual abuse. Take a look at some of these helpful resources from other organizations who share the Y’s commitment to the safety of children. 

Educational Videos and Information for Parents & Caregivers by Praesidium  

  Additional Resources 

Five Days of Action is an initiative supported annually by the YMCA Champions for Child Protection and YMCA of the USA.

Special thanks to Elizabeth L. Jeglic, Georgia M. Winters, and Benjamin N. Johnson for their collective work in research and resources to support families, caregivers, and youth serving organizations in abuse prevention.

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