Introduce the topic as a safety issue
Introduce the topic of Sexual Abuse Prevention to your child as a safety issue. For example, talk to them about some of the safety measures in your home and then lead the conversation to Body Safety. Teach them that Body Safety is about keeping his/her body safe and what to do when someone touches them in a way that they don’t like or makes them feel uncomfortable.
Basic concepts to teach
* Teach them that their body belongs to them and no one has the right to hurt their body.
* Teach them to be assertive and say “NO” to anyone who touches them inappropriately, whether it is a stranger or someone they know very well.
* Teach them not to keep secrets between you and them.
* Teach them whom they can talk to if they have a problem when you are not around.
* Teach them that if the adults do not believe or listen to them, they should tell other adults and keep telling until someone listens and does take some action.
* Teach them that they are not to blame if someone touches them inappropriately. It is always the offender’s fault, not theirs.
Have the children practice
Having the children practice saying “NO” to uncomfortable touches or dangerous situations is a valuable tool. Whenever possible, have the children practice being assertive with adults in a various situations. If children have trouble speaking with adults whom they trust – they will certainly have difficulty saying “NO” to someone who is abusing them. Sexual abuse prevention involves more than just knowing what should be done – it depends upon the ability to act upon one’s knowledge. Teach them The Body Safety slogan “NO GO TELL!!”
Teaching your children your home address, phone number and a close relative’s phone number is the first step in teaching your child about safety.
Explain to your children why they need to learn the phone numbers and in what situations they should use them.
Print the address form given below, help your child fill out the form, and help them remember it.
Name: ____________________________________ Class: ______________________________________ My Address: _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ My Mom’s Phone Number : ____________________________ My Dad’s Phone Number : _____________________________ Parents: Please help your child fill out the above information and help them remember it. |
* For girls, this is from the neck down to the knees.
* For boys, this is from the waist down to the knees.
* This includes their lips too, for both boys and girls.
Teach them that no one should touch or see the “No Touch Area” of their body except for health and hygiene reasons. They should not touch or see others “No Touch Area”.
Teach them that there are only two situations where someone can touch their “No Touch Area”.1. When they are young or get sick, parents/caregivers may help them with bathing and dressing.
2. Sometimes, when they visit the doctor for a health check-up, the doctor can see their “No Touch Area” with your presence in the room.
But other than the above 2 situations, no one should touch or see their “No Touch Area”.Print the “No Touch Area” file and have the children colour the appropriate “No Touch Area”.
What is Assertiveness?
It means,
Speaking up for your own rights and opinions without violating the rights and opinion of others.
You are bold, confident, and you know your boundaries.
You are clear and firm and willing to defend yourself against aggressive intrusions.
Explain the difference between Submissive, Assertive, and Aggressive child.
* You pull your child’s hair slightly and watch how she/he reacts to your behaviour. Then explain to him/her how different character child will react to such uncomfortable situations.* Explain that a Submissive child will not say “No” and will just stay quiet and this will encourage you to keep pulling his/her hair.
* An Assertive child will look in your eyes and say, “No, Stop it”. Whereas an Aggressive child will start to hit and kick you when his/her hair is pulled.
SubmissivePrint the Telling Tree and ask your child to write down names of adults whom they trust and think will listen to him/her and take appropriate action.
Step I: Get the support
Meet with the principal or school board to gain their support and to discuss The Body Safety Program. Show them the Body Safety books and explain to them that sexual abuse is a body safety issue- not an issue of sexual education or sexuality.
Step II: Offer the materials to teachers and other school staff
Request the school board to provide The Body Safety books (Red Light Green Light Body Safety Rules) to teachers and staff who will be teaching the program and will be involved in reporting incidents of suspected abuse. Explain to them that this can be tied to Value education class on weekly basis.
Step III: Set up information session for parents.
This can be tied to a regular PTA meeting or a separate activity. A parent information and permission slip can be sent home with the students. This gives the parent the opportunity to preview the information that the children are going to be taught in the school. Parent information night:
Arrange for a parent information night and the following can be covered at the parent information night:
1. The problem of Sexual Abuse
2. How education can prevent Sexual Abuse.
3. Discussion of lesson plans and how units are to be taught.
4. Activities parents can do at home to reinforce safety concepts.
Please contact Bodysafetyguide@gmail.com to get more information on how to implement the program in your child’s school.
