When Kindness Starts Feeling Wrong

Kindness should feel safe. But what happens when attention, gifts, secrets, or affection begin to feel wrong?

When Kindness Starts Feeling Wrong is a carefully written picture book that helps children ages 6-8 understand grooming, personal boundaries, private zones, unsafe touch, and the importance of telling a safe adult.

Through four realistic stories, children see that unsafe behavior can come from anyone-including relatives, trusted adults, older children, leaders, or people met online. Each child recognizes the danger and tells at a different stage, showing readers that there is no "perfect" time or perfect way to speak up.

Most importantly, children learn:

• Their body belongs to them.
• Gifts, affection, or attention never purchase access to their body.
• Freezing, remaining silent, or waiting to tell is never their fault.
• It is never too late to ask for help.
• If one adult does not listen, they should keep telling until someone does.

Written by father and survivor J.E.Treadway, this book was created to help families begin a difficult but necessary conversation with honesty, care, and age-appropriate language. The stories are non-graphic, thoughtfully illustrated, and supported by discussion questions and guidance for adults.

This is more than a book about recognizing danger. It is a book about giving children words, helping adults listen, and reminding every survivor-young or grown-that they deserve to be believed, protected, and helped.