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Know Your Child

My body belongs to me: Awareness on good touch, bad touch in children

Ramya Know Your Child Good Touch Bad Touch
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Nowadays child abuse and molestation have increased. Almost everyday media telecasts one or the other such unfortunate news where young children ranging from age 3 to 7 being subjected to sexual abuse. It is very crucial, and cause for concern because this is the age where they don’t know what is right or wrong. This is the time when parents/school management need to create an awareness about what is good touch and bad touch in children. Since it is a very sensitive topic parents may hesitate to talk about it in front of children. However, in order to create consciousness you need to break the stigma associated with it.

So let us here uncover few points on how parents can slowly discuss this with their children.

What is good touch?

Ask children how do they feel when their friends hold their hands or shake hands with each other, when teacher taps on shoulder, and when parents give a warm hug. Obviously they say it’s good because any touch makes them feel happy, leaves them comfortable, and safe are good touch. It may not hurt rather makes them feel joyful. It is also never forced. So children feel good about it and want them often.

What is bad touch?

Touches involving our special parts that are private to us, and touches that are told to be kept secret among others. If a person threatens to hurt them, or it is forced/scary one then it is known as bad touch. Therefore parents need to make their children understand the feelings when they come across these touches.

Make them understand about their private parts

Parents need to teach children about their private body parts. It is crucial for even parents to speak about it. In simple words you can say “the parts below the neck and above the knee are considered as private parts. Make them understand that these parts are touched only when parents give them bath or with the consent of parents doctors sometimes touch for medication purpose. This can be explained through stories since children get connected to stories very easily and it can deeply impact them. Teachers can use charts, puppets (hand, finger) to explain about these touches.

‘No” “Go” “Tell” – Rules

Once children get to know the difference between good touch and bad touch it is easy for you to explain what can they do about it. When someone tries to do a bad touch and threatens them not to tell anyone there are 3 magical words they can use during such situation .

Shout “No” – Shouting No will make the adult understand the child knows about bad touch.

Run..or Go away from that place – Flight mode is the best way to escape from the situation.

Tell – a trusted adult about the event is the most important step a child could do.

Children need to get reminded that they are special and unique, their body belongs to them, that safety is their right, and also that they can get help. They can even have your contact numbers or child helpline line number TEN NINE EIGHT/1098 for emergency purpose.

All of us want our children to be safe and secure. Parents try their level best to give their children comfortable environment. When children come in contact with people, such people might have good or bad intentions. And hence it is necessary to create awareness so that they are ready to face the challenges and learn how to deal with them effectively.

Image by pixabay

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Ramya E.

The author is a counselor and lifeskills trainer who has trained over 2000 students. She holds an M.Sc. in Psychology.

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