Child safety education is often sensitive, complex, and uncomfortable to communicate, especially to young children. Many children are unaware of what constitutes inappropriate behavior, how to recognize unsafe situations, or whom to approach for help. According to NCRB (National Crime Records Bureau), POCSO Act cases show alarming growth: 32,608 cases in 2017, increasing to 39,827 in 2018, and reaching 88,902 new cases in 2024. The challenge extends beyond courts. In 2024, 85,595 cases were disposed with 96.28% disposal rate. Over 745 Fast Track Special Courts operate nationwide, including 404 dedicated POCSO courts, having disposed of more than 3,06,000 cases combined. These statistics demonstrate both judicial system capacity and persistent case volume. Sexual abuse not only snatches away children's innocence but leaves deep and lasting psychological impacts. While courts ensure swift justice and accountability, prevention through early education is equally essential and often overlooked. This innovation was created to bridge this critical gap. The game-based approach makes child safety learning simple, child-friendly, interactive, and non-threatening. By using the familiar Snakes-and-Ladders format, complex legal and protective concepts become accessible to children. The innovation breaks social stigma around discussing child safety, encourages open communication with trusted adults, and empowers children to recognize threats and seek help confidently.
In practice, Jaano, Khelo, Jeeto operates as a classroom-based interactive learning tool designed to teach children about personal safety in a friendly and engaging way. The innovation is modeled on the familiar Snakes-and-Ladders game, but traditional gameplay is replaced with learning-based actions. Children play in groups, roll a dice, and move across the board. With each move, the child picks a card linked to the number they land on.
Two types of cards are used:
Red Cards: Focused on sensitive topics such as good touch vs. bad touch, unsafe situations, boundaries, trusted adults, and helpline numbers.
Yellow Cards: Cover general awareness and life-skills learning.
If a child answers correctly, they earn an extra turn, creating a rewarding and motivating learning environment. Teachers guide the session, encourage participation, and address doubts, making the experience safe and supportive.
Media reports highlight that children participating in the activity become more confident, aware, and expressive about safety concerns—something traditional lectures could not achieve. The model requires minimal resources, making it easily scalable and sustainable across schools. The use of play makes the learning process memorable, non-threatening, and impactful, ensuring that children retain safety awareness and are better prepared to act in real-life situations.
Jaano Khelo Jeeto” has been spreading steadily through schools, administrative networks, and public awareness platforms. It began as a pilot in selected government schools where teachers observed high engagement and strong learning outcomes. Based on this success, the District Administration supported larger printing of game boards and cards, enabling distribution across more schools without additional infrastructure or cost barriers.
Training sessions were conducted for teachers, counsellors, and Child Protection Committees, ensuring that the game is implemented meaningfully and safely. Regular use during classroom activities, awareness weeks, and child safety programs has helped normalize the game as a part of learning, not just an occasional activity.
Media coverage by leading newspapers and digital platforms—especially Times of India—has significantly boosted visibility, generating interest from other districts, government bodies, NGOs, and education stakeholders. Social media sharing by teachers, parents, and officials has supported organic growth and recognition.
Because the game is simple, low-cost, and culturally familiar, it is easy to replicate and adopt. The model has now begun moving beyond Baghpat, with educators and child protection advocates requesting copies and training support. The initiative continues to expand as a practical, scalable approach to child safety education.
Since its introduction, Jaano Khelo Jeeto has evolved based on classroom experience, feedback from teachers, and responses from children. Initially designed as a simple Snakes-and-Ladders style board introducing basic safety concepts, the content has gradually expanded to include more age-appropriate scenarios, contextual examples, and clearer guidance on real-life responses. The question cards have been refined to ensure language is friendly, non-threatening, and relatable to children of different age groups.
Additional card categories have been introduced to cover topics such as digital safety, emotional well-being, bullying, and identifying trusted adults. The red and yellow card format remains, but the number of cards and difficulty levels have increased, supporting repeated and progressive learning.
To make implementation smoother, facilitator guides and short teacher training modules have been added. These help teachers confidently address sensitive questions, maintain safe discussion spaces, and manage variations in student understanding.
The physical format has also been improved: laminated boards for durability, colour-coded icons for quick comprehension, and a compact packaging format for portability. In some schools, a larger floor version of the board has been introduced to enable group participation and movement-based learning, making sessions more interactive.
The innovation continues to evolve as a dynamic, user-led model, adapting to the real needs of children
To try Jaano Khelo Jeeto, you can begin by accessing the game materials, including the board, dice, and question cards. The game is designed to be simple and low-cost, so it can be printed and used in any classroom or community space. Start by identifying a facilitator—such as a teacher, counsellor, parent volunteer, or child protection officer—who will guide the session and ensure a safe learning environment.
Before beginning, briefly explain the purpose of the game: learning about personal safety through play. Gather a small group of children and demonstrate how the dice is rolled, how turns are taken, and how to respond to the matching question cards. The facilitator should read each question aloud, allow the child to respond, and gently guide them if they struggle. If the child answers correctly, they receive an extra turn, keeping motivation high.
Create an open and comfortable atmosphere where children feel confident to speak, ask questions, and share thoughts. Encourage discussion after key questions to reinforce understanding. Use respectful and age-appropriate language, especially during sensitive topics like body safety or consent.
After finishing the game, conduct a short reflection session. Ask children what they learned, what surprised them, and what actions they would take if they ever felt unsafe. This helps reinforce concepts and ensures learning translates into real-life awareness.
With these steps, anyone can implement the game effectively.
