​Welcome back! Last week we focused on using the proper names for body parts

​Welcome back!
Last week we focused on using the proper names for body parts in a calm and matter of fact way. How did you get on with the exercises? Was it unusual to use the proper names or was it just normal for your household?

This week we will be developing even more body awareness. This time we
are focusing on helping kids feel positive about their own body so they feel great about owning and being in control of their body (an important part of child sexual abuse prevention).
Helping kids understand that different parts of their bodies have different functions helps them see their body as special, and a tool they own that they can use to do all sorts of things.
This is the foundation of body ownership, where we teach kids that their body is their own and that there are some touching rules people need to follow – which we will cover next week.
 
This week caregivers can:

1. Praise children for the wonderful things their bodies can do (focus on the fact that bodies are here because they can do cool things). (e.g. “Whose foot is that? Is it my foot? No? is it yours?! Wow. What can it help you do? Yes! it can help you walk around. Isn’t that cool to have feet?”)
2. Have some fun with kids by asking them which part of their body they would like to wave goodbye with when someone is leaving.

Ps. kids might become more assertive (or sometimes quite playful) about their bodies at this stage. It is ok to let them know that the parts of our bodies which are usually covered by togs are our private parts (vulva/vagina or penis and anus) and that we usually don’t wave goodbye with those parts because they are private) because saying goodbye is often something we do in public.

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