Touching: Safe vs Confusing

In first grade this week I gave a lesson on appropriate touching.  I made a criteria chart to help students learn about the touching rule.  It's important for young children to be aware of how to protect themselves and also understand that it is never their fault if someone touches them inappropriately.

The first type of touching is a SAFE touch.  It will make you, and others, feel happy, safe, and warm inside.  It shows that you care.  Some examples include a good night hug from mom, dad, and other relatives; hug or high five from a teammate or friend; hugging your pet.

The second type of touching is a CONFUSING touch.  This is an unwanted touch that makes you feel scared, mixed up, uncomfortable, or confused.  It is not warm and it doesn't show that someone cares for you.  Some examples include a hug you don't like from someone you don't want a hug from, tickling under your shirt, touches that are uncomfortable or hurt, a pat on your bottom.  If you have a weird feeling in the pit of your stomach, it's best to report it to an adult immediately.

The third type of touching is a PRIVATE touch.  Something is private if it belongs to you.  Your body is private.  Everything that is covered by your bathing suit is private.  Nobody should touch these places unless you have given them permission and it is for a very good reason.  We discussed that doctors might touch your private areas with your permission to check your health, and your parents should always be present.

If someone touches you in a way that is not wanted, confusing, or a private area you need to tell them, "NO." "STOP." LEAVE ME ALONE." in a stern, loud voice (we practiced this aloud) and go find your parents or a trusted adult right away.  If the first trusted adult doesn't believe you or help you, keep telling trusted adults until you find someone that will help.  I reinforced that it is not your fault when someone gives you unwanted touches to your private areas.  

I found a great article about how to teach touching safety rules to your children at home.

Teaching Touching Safety Rules from the Committee for Children:

 

There are three things you can teach your children before you begin to teach them specific touching safety rules.

1. Teach children the correct names of all of their different body parts, including their private body parts.

Children often find it hard to tell about sexual abuse because they don't know the words to use. Learning correct (anatomical) words for private body parts gives children the words to use and helps them know that it is okay to talk about those body parts.
When teaching your young child the different body parts, consider using the correct words for private body parts along with words such as tummy and ears. You can give older children more information because they are able to understand more. You can also explain that the parts of their bodies covered by a swimsuit are their private body parts.

2. Teach children that "You are the boss of your body."

Let your children know that they are in control of who touches their bodies and how. Model this for children: "I don't want you to jump up and down on me. Please stop." Likewise, immediately respect their wishes not to be touched in certain ways. "Looks like you don't want me to pick you up right now. Okay." As you supervise your children's interactions, make it clear that they need to stop tickling or roughhousing if a sibling says "Stop!" 

In addition, do not insist that your children give or receive hugs or kisses from relatives if they do not wish to. This teaches children that it’s okay to say no to touches from people in their family. Some relatives might expect a hug from your children every time they see them. Tell relatives that you are teaching your children to be bosses of their bodies as part of teaching them safety about touching, so that family members won't be offended by your children's behavior.

3. Explain to children that there are three kinds of touches.

The three kinds of touches are:

• Safe touches. These are touches that keep children safe and are good for them, and that make children feel cared for and important. Safe touches can include hugging, pats on the back, and an arm around the shoulder. Safe touches can also include touches that might hurt, such as removing a splinter. Explain to children that when you remove a splinter, you are doing so to keep them healthy, which makes it a safe touch.
• Unsafe touches. These are touches that hurt children's bodies or feelings (for example, hitting, pushing, pinching, and kicking). Teach children that these kinds of touches are not okay.
• Unwanted touches. These are touches that might be safe but that a child doesn't want from that person or at that moment. It is okay for a child to say no to an unwanted touch, even if it is from a familiar person. Help your children practice saying no in a strong, yet polite voice. This will help children learn to set personal boundaries.

Touching Safety Rules

Once children can name their private body parts and know about different kinds of touches, you can teach them that there is another kind of unsafe touch that is also not okay. This kind of touch is when someone older or bigger touches their private body parts. How you explain this will depend on the age of your child.

For a young child you might say, "Another kind of unsafe touch is when a bigger person touches you on your private body parts and it is not to keep you clean or healthy. So we have a family safety rule that it is never okay for a bigger person to touch your private body parts except to keep you clean and healthy." 

Parents should understand that the "clean" part of this rule applies to young children at an age when an adult might help them with diaper changing, going to the toilet, or bathing. The "healthy" part of this rule refers to doctor visits; for example, when the doctor gives a child a shot. An adult family member should always be present at doctor appointments. At some point during the teenage years it will become appropriate for your children to handle their own doctor appointments.

For an older child you might say, "Another kind of unsafe touch is when someone touches you on your private body parts and it is not to keep you healthy. So our family safety rule about touching is that no one should touch your private body parts except to keep you healthy."

Teach your children the following safety rules:

• It is not okay to touch someone else's private body parts.
• It is not okay for someone to touch his or her own private body parts in front of you.
• It is not okay for someone to ask you to touch his or her private body parts.
• It is not okay for someone to ask you to take your clothes off or to take photos or videos of you with your clothes off.
• It is not okay for someone to show you photos or videos of people without their clothes on.