1. Teach children the correct names of all 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 “they are the boss of their 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 and friends if they do not wish to. This teaches
children that it’s okay to say no to touches from people in their family
and others they know. 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 they are not offended by your children’s behavior.

3. Explain to your child 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.
3
For an older child you might say, “Another kind of unsafe touch is when
someone touches you in a “wrong way” on your private body parts and it is
not to keep you healthy. So a good 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 except if
they are a doctor helping to see if you are hurt or sick
 It is not okay for someone 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.
 You can decide who can touch you, who can kiss you, or who can give
you a hug. You have the right to say, “no.”
What do you do when someone touches you in the
wrong way?
 Say no! Tell the person that you don’t like it and you don’t want to be
touched.
 Get away fast! Run away from the person whose touch you don’t like.
Never stay alone with that person ever again.
 Call for help. You can scream.
 Believe in yourself. You did nothing wrong.
 If someone touches you in the wrong way, tell someone you trust what
has happened. Don’t let threats scare you into running away or keeping
quiet. When a person touches you and asks you to keep it a secret
between the two of you, ask yourself, “Does the secret bother me?”
 Don’t keep secrets that make you feel uncomfortable. Go to a person
you trust-a parent, a relative, a teacher, or your doctor. If the person
you go to doesn’t believe you, go to someone else you trust until someone
believes you and helps you. 4
 Do everything you can to stay away from the person who is touching
you in the wrong way or making you feel uncomfortable. Don’t stay
alone with a person who touches you in a way that makes you
uncomfortable or makes you feel unsafe.
Good Touch
It feels good to be hugged and kissed by the people you love. For example:
 When Mommy gives you a hug and kiss after you wake up.
 When Daddy gives you a good-night hug and kiss.
 When Grandma and Grandpa come to visit and everyone gets hugs and
kisses.
Bad Touch
Touches that make you feel uncomfortable are usually bad touches. You don’t
have to keep a secret when someone gives you bad touch. Don’t feel that you
are bad. Whoever gives you a bad touch is the one who is bad, not you. Your
body belongs to you. Nobody should touch you if you don’t want to be
touched. Do you know what a bad touch is?
– It is a bad touch if it hurts you.
– It is a bad touch if someone touches you on your body where you don’t
want to be touched.
– It is a bad touch if the person touches you under your clothing or tickles
you under the clothing.
– It is a bad touch if a person touches you in a way that makes you feel
uncomfortable.
– It is a bad touch if that touch makes you feel scared and nervous.
– It is a bad touch if a person forces you to touch him or her.
– It is a bad touch if a person asks you not to tell anyone.
– It is a bad touch if a person threatens to hurt you if you tell.