Safe Touch , Unsafe Touch

 

We hear a lot about child abuse and molestation these days. We must begin educating young children about "Safe Touch, Unsafe Touch" to limit further harm. Targets are often very young children, between 6 and 7 years old. They lack the maturity to distinguish between right and wrong. Most parents do not want to broach the subject because it is still a delicate one for them to broach with their kids. Schools are no different in this regard. We occasionally struggle to stand up and address delicate subjects.

We all have a good understanding of several safety regulations. We quickly think of wearing a helmet while operating a vehicle as one example. Avoid using a phone while driving utilizing a zebra crossing to cross the road, etc.

However, we know very little about how to safeguard our bodies. since revealing information about bodies is still viewed as taboo. Even though our nation, India, has significantly developed and many urban dwellers and a small number of residents of rural areas are openly exchanging opinions and discussing issues like menstruation, gender inequality, etc., the debate over "safe touch and unsafe touch" has not yet been sufficiently addressed.

Clearly outlining personal body safety guidelines involves assisting kids in becoming capable of recognizing, resisting (as much as they can), and reporting sexual assault.

All animals and birds are a part of our natural world, and they are all inherently capable of protecting themselves from harm. When threatened by people or other animals, such as dogs, they exhibit certain behaviors, like In most cases, when a dog senses danger, it will behave strangely. being agitated, unsteady, or avoiding eye contact. barking repeatedly in response to stone throws. Butterfly-loving birds are renowned for their eye-catching beauty, yet they are extremely difficult to capture. Mimosa pudica, also known as the "touch me not plant," responds to our touches by closing its leaves as a defense mechanism. Human bodies are no different, but the issue is that we weren't educated about our private body parts as kids, how to protect ourselves, or how to recognize danger when it's coming

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According to a First Information Report (FIR) filed at Bund Garden Police Station in Pune, India, on March 18, 2022, in a horrifying case of child sexual abuse. An 11-year-old girl was allegedly raped on multiple occasions by four members of her family, including her father, older teenage brother, and paternal grandfather. Most people don’t realize that when we talk about child sexual abuse, this includes the abuse of very young children and even babies. Between 2005 and 2022, the UN certified a startling 315,000 grave breaches against children in conflict.

Touch—what is it?

To bring a bodily part into contact with, especially to perceive through the tactile sense: the handle or feel gentle, usually with the intent to understand or appreciate. [source: Google]

The following three types of touches :

 

Safe touches: These gestures protect children, are healthy for them, and give kids a sense of importance and care. Hugs pats on the back, and an arm around the shoulder are examples of safe touches. They make the child happy or feel comfortable with them.

Example: A doctor checking you in front of your father or your mother and giving you a hug that makes you happy and comfortable are examples of safe touches. or a head or shoulder pat from a teacher expressing their gratitude.

[source: google]

Unsafe touches: these are improper touches. These include actions such as hitting, pushing, pinching, and kicking that harm children's bodies or feelings. Tell kids that certain sorts of touching are inappropriate. These make children nervous or scared.

Example: someone putting their hands over the child’s private parts and someone putting their hands inside the child’s clothes Or someone bullying you.

Unwanted touches: these are undesirable touches. A youngster doesn't want these touches from that person or at that time, even though they may be safe. Even if it is coming from a familiar individual, it is acceptable for a youngster to refuse unwelcome contact.

We were all taught about various body parts when we were children, such as the ears, eyes, nose, fingers, legs, etc., but we rarely mentioned the names of private body parts.

Let your youngster know that there are four private parts: the face, the chest (breast), and the areas between the legs (between the buttocks).

It's crucial to teach kids the correct names for their private parts when they are learning the names of their body parts. You can explain to smaller children that their private areas are those that a swimsuit covers. Names for the nipples, breasts, bottom, penis, vagina, and anus should be taught to the students, which helps safeguard your child against sexual abuse. Kids need to feel it’s natural and not embarrassing or wrong to use the correct names for all their body parts. Your children could be more reluctant to report abuse to you if they sense your uneasiness. They can also find it more difficult to tell you if your discomfort makes them feel humiliated or embarrassed. Kids often find it hard to talk about sexual abuse because they don’t know the right words to use. But if a child experiences sexual abuse, he or she will need to be able to describe what happened in as factual a way as possible. When teaching your young child different body parts, consider using the correct words for private body parts along with words such as "tummy" and "ears.

Teach your child with the ideas listed here :

1. Advice: Make sure the child is aware that it is not acceptable for anyone to touch or even just peek at their private areas. Children find it easy to adhere to rules and will be able to spot inappropriate touching. You can utilize the swimsuit rule to explain private parts (parts covered by a bathing suit) to youngsters under the age of seven.                      
2. Importance of saying "NO: Assist your kids in developing a firm, although courteous, no-saying technique. They will learn to establish personal limits as a result.                              
3. Reduce media exposure: Nearly all devices have parental control settings. Beware that kids may unintentionally or knowingly learn about adult sexual activities through devices. Peers or predators may expose a child to pornographic material while you are away. Ask your child to tell you if anything like this happens.                                                                                                                                                                                                              
4. Managing curiosity: Children will occasionally ask questions that may seem absurd or irrelevant, but you should avoid the desire to mock or laugh them off. even hold back on expressing rage or contempt. Be understanding, and don't make the child feel guilty for being curious. Clear, concise responses should be provided using straightforward language.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
   
   
                                                                                                                                               
5. Don’t keep secrets: Teach kids not to hold secrets but to share them with someone trustworthy instead. It may be a parent, sibling, teacher, doctor, or member of the police. Go to someone else you feel secure with if the people you go to don't believe you until someone does and you get assistance.                                                                                       
6. My Body, My Rules: Instill the idea that "You're the boss of your body" in children. Children should understand that they have control over how they are touched. Additionally, if your kids don't want to, don't make them give or accept hugs or kisses from relatives. This teaches kids that it's okay to decline physical contact with members of their family. Some relatives might anticipate receiving a hug from your kids each time they visit. To prevent your relatives from becoming offended by your children's behavior, explain to them that you are educating your kids to be in charge of their bodies as part of teaching them safety around contact.

The guidelines listed below should be taught to children in cases where they feel unsafe, someone touches them inappropriately, or they observe any improper actions:

• You can scream loudly and tell the unsafe person that you don’t like it and don’t want to be touched.                                                                                                                            
• Get away from that place as fast as you can.                                                                       
• As soon as you can, leave that area. In the future, try to avoid being with that individual alone.                                                                                                                                    
• Call for assistance right away, then go to a reliable source, such as your parents or a teacher, and explain what occurred to them. If your elders are not close by, you can yell for assistance. Tell a trusted adult. The trusted adult should be over 18 years old and be in a position to help you.                                                                                                       
• Tell them not to be afraid of that person or to be self-conscious. They haven't broken any laws. They are not at fault; rather, it is the other person.

 

A child helpline is a civil society organization, governmental body, or social enterprise that provides help, support, and counseling services to children (18 years and under) and/or young people (25 years and under) through online and offline means of communication.

Child helplines base their work on the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). The UNCRC spells out the basic humfundamentalghts that children everywhere have: the right to survival; the right to develop to their fullest; the right to protection from harmful influences, abuse, and exploitation; and the right to participate fully in family, cultural, and social life. The UNCRC also specifically gives children the right to be heard and to express their views without fear of harm or reprisal. Child helplines help ensure that all children have the opportunity to be heard. [source: https://childhelplineinternational.org/helplines/]

Visit the site: https://childhelplineinternational.org/helplines/

And find your local child helpline.

India: CHILDLINE is a National, 24-hour, Emergency toll-free phone service for children in need of care and protection. Any child or concerned adult can dial 1098 to access this service. 

    

It's time to acknowledge our fundamental obligation to create a welcoming, secure environment for children.

The sexual abuse and exploitation of children is one of the most vicious crimes conceivable, a violation of mankind’s most basic duty to protect the innocent.

— James T. Walsh