A parent is the child's first teacher, and their knowledge about touch is also received foremost from their parents. Feelings of security, being loved, and a sense of belonging are the earliest lessons learned by our children. In this scenario, parenting tips for raising children are a great help to new parents.
Moreover, we are all collectively responsible to make our young children completely safe so that their childhood could be safe and happy too. There is growing concern about emotional safety and the emotional learning of children, too. Similarly, a parent has to educate the child about personal safety also.
What is good touch and bad touch?
As a responsible parent, you need to explain the concept of good touch and bad touch to your kid. Especially when they turn 2-3 years old. At this time, children begin to feel curious about their bodies and their retention power also develops. Therefore, teaching about the difference between good touch and bad touch becomes important from this age onwards.
You can lovingly explain the concept of good touch bad touch for kids in a way that good touch is something that will make them feel happy and comfortable. On the other hand, bad touch is something that will make them feel uncomfortable and scared.
Ideas to spread good touch bad touch awareness to your kids
It is important to educate our young children on what is acceptable and what is unacceptable or inappropriate touch - which is a breach of their personal safety.
Here are some good touch bad touch examples and ideas for your referral.
1. Introduce Personal Safety
Is There A Right Time To Introduce The Concept Of Personal Safety? The answer is Yes!
Knowledge is power and ignorance a fool's bliss. It's important that we create opportunities to talk to our children about what a good touch is and what is not. A toddler starts inquiring about their body parts when they are nearly three years of age. That would be the correct time to capitalize on that opportunity to let them know the proper names of their body parts while avoiding informal nicknames for these parts.
For example, you are playing a game with your toddler. Everytime your toddler completes a task, you reward them with a hug. After the completion of the game, you can ask, “Do you like that?” And then you can share that a hug from mom or dad is a good touch, that is why it brings happy feelings. This is one simple way of teaching your kids about good touch bad touch.
2. Using Pretend Play as good touch bad touch activity
What we do affects others and ourselves. Through the knowledge and skills that they gain, children learn about self-regulation, self-management, and the beginnings of independence and autonomy. Using role play with dolls and toy figures as a technique can help in identifying appropriate ways to touch others as well as help very young children label and identify body parts.
3. Explaining How Touch is Received and How It Feels
You can share with your toddler that good touch brings happy feelings when you are hugged and kissed by the people you love; like when Mumma or Papa give you a hug and a kiss when you go to bed or wake up. Or even when grandparents visit us and we all get hugs and kisses. And bad touch is when it hurts you or causes you pain or makes you feel nervous or scared. It should not be kept a secret when someone touches you against your will or where you do not want to be touched.
You should highlight to your kid time and again that “if a person asks you not to tell anyone or something bad will happen, that is when you need to tell your parents right away.”
4. Teach Your Child the Names of Their Body-Parts
First and foremost, they must know what to call their private parts without an iota of shame associated with it. It is just another part of their body like a hand, chin, or elbow. Just as a child is able to clearly share with a parent when in pain, about "What happened? " the child should be able to comfortably explain the exact location of the pain by using the accurate terminology for the body part to emphasize the situation.
Reading a book on the human body which shows the skeleton, organs, and body parts can definitely be a good learning experience.
5. Teach About Personal Space and Private Parts
Gently and lovingly explain to your child that some parts of their body are private and belong only to them. They are not for public viewing. In simple words, define private parts - parts covered by underwear/swimsuits are private parts and no one may touch private parts. You can also share that in some cases like giving a bath, their parents may touch those parts. Also, the doctor may be allowed to touch these parts but only and only in the presence of the parents.
6. Teach Them to Say "No" Emphatically
Encourage them to voice their opinions about their feelings. Even in play, if anyone makes them uncomfortable, they have the right to make a loud noise, "Stop! I don't like this play" either to a peer or any other adult.
7. Establishing Clear Boundaries for Physical Safety
Teach your child to communicate and express concern to you right away and loudly even if the risk of safety is from a known and close contact.
8. Safety Rules to Teach Your Children
Share with your kids that:
1- It is not okay to touch someone else's private body parts
2- It is not okay for someone to touch his or her own private body parts in front of you.
3- It is not right for anyone to ask you to remove your clothes except if they are a doctor trying to determine whether you are injured or ill, under the supervision of your parents.
4- It is not right for anyone to take pictures or videos of you naked.
9. Refrain from Forced Displays of Affection
Let us remind ourselves as parents not to force our children to hug or kiss any friend or family member. A smile or greeting from a distance is an acceptable display of affection. Physical contact is not necessary.
10. Teach How to Seek Help and Express Needs
Incidents usually occur when a parent is not around. Teach them to go to the nearest trusted adult if they feel uncomfortable and insecure.
11. Communicate, Express, Share!
Encourage and set an example with your child to speak openly about their feelings, likes, and dislikes without judgment. Respect their opinions.
How can Mom & I help you in teaching your kids about Good Touch-Bad Touch?
Mom & I, by the House of Mother’s Pride is a well-designed programme to make parents and their children discuss sensitive topics such as Good Touch and Bad Touch in a safe, engaging, and age-appropriate way. This program teaches the parents how to train their children on body safety, consent, and boundaries with the help of interactive activities, expert guidance, and open communication.
Join Mom & I to develop a closer relationship with your child and empower them with the knowledge to identify and respond safely to all kinds of situations.
Parents have to teach their kids to differentiate between the good and bad things of the world. If you find symptoms such as doing poorly in school, looking dull or disinterested, sudden bed wetting & thumb sucking, or any kind of behavioral change in your kid, then talk with them patiently. Keep calm and listen to your child.
Conclusion
Frequently Asked Questions
You can teach children about good touch and bad touch by different activities. For example, you can engage with your child in pretend play where they are playing with a human-figure toy or a doll and you share which parts can be touched and which cannot be touched.
Teaching about appropriate and inappropriate touch is important for your kid’s mental, physical, and emotional well-being. Every child deserves to be respected and feel secure. And making them aware about good and bad touch will help in building their confidence and ensuring their safety.
You can protect your child from bad touch by using a combination of education, communication, and supervision. Here are some important steps:
1- Teach Body Safety Rules
2- Empower Them to Say 'No'
3- Establish Open Communication
4- Role-Playing Scenarios
5- Teach Them to Identify Trusted Adults
6- Monitor Their Surroundings
7- Educate About Not Keeping Any Secrets From You
When children learn to differentiate between safe and unsafe touch, they become more aware of uncomfortable situations and better able to react to them. This kind of awareness builds security in children and enables them to speak up when something feels wrong.
You can begin by teaching your child about what is good touch and what is bad touch from the age of 3, by using simple language and concepts that are suitable to their age.