Cardboard Kids season brings our community together each year to raise awareness and stand up for child abuse prevention across Bexar County.
Thanks to the incredible support of our community, over 80,000 Cardboard Kids were distributed during this year’s campaign, and the season has now come to a close. The official reveal took place on April 2, 2026, and Cardboard Kids can be seen across the city and on our social media channels throughout the month of April.
Please check back with us next February for information on next year’s Cardboard Kids campaign and how to participate.
Together, we continue to raise awareness, start important conversations, and give every child a voice.
Resources to help you
Start the Conversation
Important conversations don’t have to be scary. Empower the children in your life with tools for safety and self-expression. From guided activity books to creative conversation starters, our resources focus on boundaries and self-confidence, giving you a clear roadmap to protect the children in your life.
Want more support for a group of caregivers or professionals? Request a training below and a member of our team will be happy to assist you as you start these vital conversations.
Download Our Activity Books:
(Available in English, Spanish Version Coming Soon)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Cardboard Kid?
ChildSafe’s Cardboard Kids® Campaign was created in 2014 to start the difficult but vital conversation about child abuse in our community.
Each two-foot-tall figure represents a child who has been abused or neglected, serving as a powerful symbol to spark conversations and provide caregivers and community members with tools to talk about safety.
How many Bexar County kids are affected by abuse each year?
Bexar County continues to experience some of the highest rates of child abuse and neglect in Texas. In 2024 alone, more than 4,800 children were confirmed victims of abuse or neglect in our community. Nationally, research shows that 1 in 10 children will experience sexual abuse before the age of 18 and yet only 1 in 10 ever come forward.
How can I order my Cardboard Kids?
Order your free Cardboard Kid by visiting our order request form »
You can also pick them up in-person across various distribution sites on Saturday, March 7th, 2026.
How do I receive my order?
On your Cardboard Kids Order Form, you will indicate whether you want to pick up your Cardboard Kids at ChildSafe on your requested pick-up date throughout March.
What do I do with my Cardboard Kids?
Decorate or dress your Cardboard Kid in any creative way you choose and display it in a highly visible location beginning Reveal Day, Thursday, April 2, 2026.
We encourage you to keep your Cardboard Kid up throughout the month of April in recognition of Child Abuse Prevention Month. If you spot a Cardboard Kid or decorate one of your own snap a photo and share it on social media using #CardboardKidsSA to help spread awareness across our community!
How do I start the conversation with the youth in my life?
It’s never too early—or too late—to start meaningful conversations about safety with the youth in your life. Visit our Cardboard Kids webpage to access free educational workbooks and lesson plans for grades K–12. These resources are designed for caregivers, educators, youth-group leaders, and anyone who wants guidance on discussing personal safety and boundaries with children and teens.
Spread the Word
If you discover a Cardboard Kid, snap a photo and share the location through social media using #CardboardKidsSA when posting on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other media sites. Imagine the impact of expanding the conversation!
About Cardboard Kids
“Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.”
– Elie Wiesel, Nobel Peace Prize 1986
The most important element in a difficult conversation is starting one. Never is this truer than with our difficulty talking about child sexual and physical abuse. That is why in 2014, ChildSafe created Cardboard Kids®, a city-wide public awareness campaign to draw attention to the pervasiveness of child abuse and the fact that every story is different and every child unique.
Cardboard Kids are more than two-foot-tall cardboard figures. They represent one of the thousands of children that are abused and neglected at the hands of adults in our community each year. They start the conversation, not only by creating a visual symbol for children to identify with but also by providing valuable tips for caregivers on how to talk to their children about child abuse and neglect.
While Cardboard Kids will begin distribution in March, they will be decorated and placed all over San Antonio on “Reveal Day.” Cardboard Kids social media campaigns, volunteers, and community partners, like YOU, guarantee a greater awareness of the problem of child abuse. Let us all be a champion for those who have spoken up as well as for those who need a voice.
Since the very beginning of Cardboard Kids in 2015, Valero and the Valero Energy Foundation have been a steadfast partner in ChildSafe’s Cardboard Kids Campaign. What started as a community awareness campaign has grown into a meaningful prevention and education program, and Valero’s commitment has never wavered. Through their generous underwriting, Cardboard Kids has expanded its reach into Bexar County school districts, equipping students and educators with the tools to recognize and report child abuse. We are deeply grateful for Valero’s enduring investment in the safety and well-being of our community’s children.
Cardboard Kids Sponsor –
Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai
