Personal Safety Education is a concept that allows every child the right to feel safe all the time, using a framework that promotes the safety of self against abuse. This program is an addition to the safety rules we teach to our children, i.e. don’t play with fire, look both sides before and while crossing the road etc. Not only does the concept talks about the empowerment of children to take part in their own protection, it also strengthens the ability of parents, educators, and the larger community who is morally, socially and professionally responsible for the protection of children.
How to Define Personal safety?
- Personal Safety empowers children to take control of their own protection by providing them age-appropriate information & skills.
- It teaches children that their body belongs only to them and no one has the right to touch them in a way that they don’t like or understand.
- It teaches children to comprehend their emotions to help keep them safe, using fear and anger in helpful ways.
- It teaches assertiveness skills, aiding children to stand up for their own rights without violating the rights of others.
- It boosts the support system of each child, which includes the family, school, community, and friends.
What Children should be aware of?
Children need to be aware that there are three kinds of touches.
- SAFE TOUCH: These are those touches that are experienced by the receiver (child) as warm, compassionate, fostering, and encouraging. All children receive such touches from their loved ones.
- UNSAFE TOUCH:These are those that harm the receiver and that make the receiver feel bad, that inflict pain or that seem to ignore the child’s feelings. It is typically very clear that the child does not want this kind of touch, and is experienced by the child as manipulative, coercive, abusive, and frightening.
- CONFUSING TOUCH: Theseare those which make the receiver feel uncomfortable, perturbed, confused, or unsure. The receiver experiences puzzlement and contradictory feelings about the touch and/or about the person who does the touching. There are times when this kind of attention “feels good” but is also terrifying, such as a touch that is sexually stimulating or being asked to keep the experience a secret. Thus, the attention or touch that “feels good” is not always good or safe.
For Expert Guidance and Teachers Training on the above subject, please visit our website www.rosettawilliams.in or get in touch by sending an email at rosetta.williams@hotmail.com.
Dr. Rosetta Williams is an accomplished educationist and strategic leader with experience of over 28 years in managing and leading education institutions, new academic ventures, education policy formulation and change management across multiple locations in India and abroad.