The first step is to help kids understand their own feelings and to name them.

Last week we focused on setting in place some touching rules for private parts so children are clear on what is and is not appropriate touch. How did that go? People sometimes find it most difficult to talk with people outside their own home about the touching rules. Did you find a way to raise it with your friends/ daycare/ extended family that you would like to share?
This week we will be looking at feelings and how to help children develop a way to understand and express their own feelings.
This can help with child sexual abuse prevention because it makes it easier for children to talk about their worried and difficult feelings.  You can help children talk about worried feelings by teaching your child to put their feelings into words.
The first step is to help kids understand their own feelings and to name them.
This week, we invite caregivers to:

1. Give words to children’s feelings (e.g. “You look happy, is that right?” ) and play a game to try and name how other people might be feeling ( https://www.mamashappyhive.com/learning-emotions-feelings/ )
2. Show you are interested in understanding why they are feeling that way (e.g. “Are you happy because you have your favourite toy?”).
3. Affirm them for telling you about their feelings (e.g. “Thank you for telling me”).

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