Introduction
Today we will learn that we should never keep secrets about touch. No one, even if it is someone we love and trust, should ever ask
us to keep a secret about a touch.
Let’s compare answers and explore how everyone has their own individual feelings around touch.
Private/Public
What do you think is meant by the word ‘private’ ?
Private is something that we do not want everyone to see, hear or know. When something is private that means it belongs to us and is not public – for everyone else’s information or attention.
Can you give examples of things that are private?
For example,
when we use the toilet in school, we shut the door for privacy, or we might keep a diary that we don’t share with others. Also when our parents come to the school to talk with the teacher about how we are getting on, it’s a private meeting.
There are also places on our body that we consider private. Usually when we refer to the private parts of our body, we mean the parts of our body that are covered by our underwear or swim suits.
No one should ever touch the private parts of your body without a good reason.
Can you think of a good reason when it might be okay to touch the private parts of someone’s body?
for example,
when a baby needs a change of nappy;
or if someone older, a child or an adult, needs help to clean themselves because they cannot do it themselves
they may be ill or have a disability that prevents them from taking care of their own body;
or if someone needs to be examined by a nurse or doctor.
When the private parts of your body have to be touched it should never be kept secret, and no one should ever ask you to keep it a secret.
Points for Discussion:
- What should Ali do?
- Why might it be difficult to tell?
- What might happen if he doesn’t tell Mum?
- What would Ali do if asked to join Sam and his Dad another day at the
beach? - How might he feel about going into Sam’s house or yard after this?
Points for Discussion:
- What should Rachel do? Imagine that you are Rachel’s friend and she
is telling you about this. What do you say and what can be done? - In pairs, pupils work out a conversation Rachel could have with her
Dad or her friend, sister, brother etc. Pupils could role-play how they
would tell.
Never keep touch a secret
It is never okay for someone to ask you to keep secrets about a touch.
This rule applies everywhere – at home, in school, in the swimming pool, on the bus. Hugs, kisses and other touches should never have to be a secret even if it is a person you know well, even if it is someone in your own family.
If someone wants you to keep secrets about touching, remember it is not okay, it is not your fault, and you must tell someone about it.
Conclusion
If someone, no matter who they are, touches you on the private parts of your body, for no good reason, even if they say they are just playing or teasing, you must use the safety rules we have – Say No, Get Away and Tell an Adult.
