Keeping children safe and secure is the utmost concern of parents and guardians. Perhaps the most important conversation to have with young children is about identifying and responding to good touch and bad touch. At Dr. Kishore’s Ratnam Schools, we are committed to creating a safe and caring environment where children are empowered to look after themselves.
This blog offers practical ways and approaches on how to teach children the difference between right and wrong touch in an age-friendly way.
What is ‘Good Touch’ and ‘Bad Touch’?
The distinction between good and bad touch is important for children to make them feel safe and valued. This is how you can define it for them:
Good Touch
Good touch is any touch that helps a child feel safe, loved, and comfortable. Some examples are:
- A hug from a parent when a child is happy or upset.
- A teacher’s or friend’s friendly high-five.
- Holding someone’s hand when crossing the street.
- A physician doing a medical examination by permission and clarification.
- Patting on the back as an act of encouragement or appreciation.
- Toying with someone’s hair as a show of affection.
Positive touch makes kids feel safe and loved. Positive touch confirms a good relationship and shows children about care and respect.
Bad Touch
Bad touch makes a kid feel unsafe, frightened, or puzzled. They are:
- Unwanted touching of private parts for no reason or without permission.
- Kicking, pinching, or other kinds of body injury.
- Secret touching or touch accompanied by threats.
- Any kind of touch that doesn’t make the child comfortable even if he cannot define the reasons.
- Forcing a hug or a kiss where the child has not agreed.
- Refusing to disclose the secret regarding touching.
Children should be taught to trust their feelings. If a touch doesn’t feel right, they should feel comfortable telling someone and getting assistance. Educating them early on that their body is their own is crucial in establishing confidence and self-knowledge.
Age-Appropriate Methods of Talking About Good Touch and Bad Touch
Educating children on safe and unsafe touch must be done in a manner that is appropriate to their age and comprehension. Here’s how you can do it:
Toddlers (Ages 2-4)
- Use simple words: “Your body belongs to you.”
- Teach them proper names for body parts.
- Tell them that some body parts are private.
- Encourage them to say “no” to unwanted touch.
- Make learning fun by using storybooks and puppets to demonstrate safe boundaries.
Preschoolers (Ages 4-6)
- Introduce the idea of safe adults (parents, teachers, trusted relatives).
- Role-play situations where they can practice saying “no” and getting help.
- Tell them that secrets about touch are not okay.
- Use a “No-Go-Tell” strategy: Say NO, GO away from the situation, and TELL a trusted adult.
School-Age Children (Ages 6-12)
- Talk more openly about body safety and boundaries.
- Emphasize that it’s never their fault if someone violates the rules.
- Encourage open discussion about their experiences.
- Educate them on how to deal with inappropriate advances by peers or adults.
- Describe the difference between surprise secrets (such as a birthday present) and unsafe secrets (anything that upsets them).
Teenagers (Ages 13+)
- Discuss consent and respecting others’ boundaries.
- Emphasize that nobody, even someone they trust, is allowed to make them feel uncomfortable.
- Discuss online safety and inappropriate online interactions.
- Educate them on peer pressure and the value of personal space.
- Teach them to stand up for themselves and their peers if they witness something inappropriately wrong.
The Parents and Caregivers Role
Caregivers and parents are extremely important when teaching and reminding the children. These are ways in which you can make a child feel safe and open:
1. Promote Open Communication
- Inform children they can speak freely to you regarding anything without being afraid.
- Listen non-judgmentally whenever they raise a concern.
- Validate their emotions and tell them that they are important to keep safe.
- Have regular check-ins to ensure that they are feeling safe across every aspect of their life.
2. Teach through Everyday Opportunities
- Talk about body safety naturally, without being frightening.
- Utilize books, videos, and real-life experiences to describe things.
- Remind them that they are entitled to say “no” to anything that makes them uncomfortable.
- Demonstrate them real-life situations where they may need to set their boundaries, such as school or outside at large.
3. Identify Warning Signs
- Behavioral changes, including withdrawal or belligerence.
- Affected fear of certain people or locations.
- Unusual physical unease or regression in behavior such as bedwetting.
- Suddenly being unwilling to be alone with specific individuals.
- Drawing or role-playing inappropriate situations, which may signify exposure to something harmful.
4. Create a Support System
- Find supportive adults your child can communicate with.
- Collaborate with schools and communities to design awareness campaigns.
- Train them on how to get help in dangerous situations.
- Make them familiar with emergency numbers and the number to call in need.
5. Enable Them with Defense Techniques
- Train them to shout “Stop!” or “No!” loudly whenever necessary.
- Demonstrate to them how to get help from trusted adults.
- Train them on emergency helplines and contacts.
- Enroll them in self-defense classes to enhance their confidence and self-protective capability.
6. Set an Example
- Model healthy and appropriate behavior in daily interactions.
- Teach them how to set their own boundaries and honor others’ boundaries.
- Emphasize that seeking assistance is strength, not weakness.
Conclusion
Child protection against inappropriate touch is a shared effort that calls for education, sensitivity, and positive parenting. Discussion of good touch and bad touch must not be a one-off conversation but a conversation that is continued and develops as the child matures. At Dr. Kishore’s Ratnam Schools, we value not just academic distinction but also the well-being and safety of our students on an emotional and physical level.
Our concern for the provision of a safe and nurturing learning environment promotes each child to feel respected and safeguarded. If you are searching for a caring learning community that puts your child’s total well-being first, contact Dr. Kishore’s Ratnam Schools in Tirupati today.
Together, let’s create a future where kids can grow up feeling secure, confident, and prepared to conquer the world.