Nuance Matters for Best Practice!

Let’s do our children a real favor, and be accurate in our teaching–not take an “easy shortcut” that leads to long-term harm.

Folks, it is not accurate or best practice to teach children that “no one should ever touch your private parts”, without giving any qualifiers. This sort of teaching sets them up for confusion, potential trauma and more.

What IS accurate and best practice is something like this: “Children, no one should ever touch the private parts of your body without a good reason–medical exams, help with hygiene etc–AND permission. When you are young, Mom and Dad will help you give permission to doctors, nurses and people like that. When you get older, and grow up, then you can give your own permission.”

Why is it important to teach nuances, rather than a blanket rule–“no one can ever touch you”? Because there are many scenarios where a medical professional or a parent legitimately needs to help with medical care or hygiene.

If you do not want your children to distrust you and your teachings, you can’t tell them no one ever… and then tell them, “Oh, but this is an exception to that rule!” somewhere down the line years later when said child is in a medical crisis. Just teach accurately to begin with.

And last, but certainly not least (yes, I’m going to go “there”), if you spend years teaching your child that “no one is to ever touch you in your private areas”, how well do you think it’s going to work to try to teach them about sex and making love? How well do you think it’s going to work to try to undo years and years of that “no one ever” teaching that will insist on coming to the forefront of their minds?

Let’s do our children a real favor, and be accurate in our teaching–not take an “easy shortcut” that leads to long-term harm.