|
Teaching children about different kinds of touches is the most fundamental part of abuse prevention. It is the best way to teach them to distinguish abusive behavior, without going into gory details or trying to give them every scenario that could possible come up. However, most programs still fail in a few major ways with the touch method. First, they teach about good and bad touches, which is great, but a molester’s advances are likely to not fall into either category. Secondly, they seldom go into much detail about touches, or take time to explain that touches can go both ways, someone touching them, or being asked to touch someone else.
Our program has added a third type of touch, and that is, a confusing touch. Chances are, a molester’s advances will register as confusing to the child. They will be a touch they have not experienced before. They will be a touch that they may not know whether is good or bad. Programs that leave this all important touch out of their programs, leave a lot lacking.
Secondly, throughout this and other books in our abuse prevention programs, we do our best to give children context for the three touches. We take time to explain that touches can go both ways. It can be being touched, or being asked to touch someone else. That bad touches can be touches that affect your mind or feelings, not just something that causes physical pain. That touching can be with any body part, not just your hands.
This book talks about the three touches, and gives children a basic foundation for them. It talks about what to do for the different types of touches, and lays a foundation for touching that should help keep them protected from abuse.
|
