At Vikhe Patil Memorial School in Pune, the school counsellor, Sucheta Mithari with the preprimary team held sessions on Safe Touch & Safety Habits for students of Nursery, KG & Sr. KG across each division from 9th to12th July 2024.
Being vigilant and teaching our young generation about the concepts of good & bad touch is crucial. As responsible adults, we must provide them with a safe and secure childhood.
The primary goal of these sessions was to sensitize and raise awareness among young minds regarding appropriate and inappropriate touch. The objective was to introduce critical concepts related to unsafe situations that children may encounter, while also imparting age-appropriate skills to help them effectively manage challenging events without fear.
The incorporation of puppet talk, and roleplay complemented the learning process, aiding children in understanding the significance and nuances of safe and acceptable touch, thereby empowering them to assertively decline unwanted touch from any individual, even familiar ones. The sessions commenced with discussions on the nature of touch, and emotional experiences.
The sessions emphasized the notion that unwelcome situations can be navigated effectively by breaking the silence, confiding in trusted adults, and taking prompt action whenever they feel unsafe. Moreover, participants engaged in a practical rehearsal on how to respond during emergency situations, empowering them to confidently say “NO,” remove themselves from the situation, and seek assistance from individuals within their trusted network.
Additionally, the sessions covered topics such as identifying individuals within their safety network, understanding private body parts, defining personal boundaries, recognizing strangers, the importance of not keeping secrets, and establishing body safety guidelines. Furthermore, children were encouraged to develop safety habits through activities like practicing “air hug,” “air hi-fi,” and “flying kiss,” which were well received during the sessions. Simple examples were provided to illustrate how strangers can pose potential threats.
Overall, these sessions provided children with the knowledge to distinguish between good and bad touch, equipping them to safeguard themselves. The constructive engagement, organic inquiry, and sharing of personal experiences by the students were indicative of the session’s positive reception.
Sucheta Mithari
School Counselor
Health & Wellness Department
