“Good touch, bad touch” is a common phrase used to introduce the concept of body safety to children in India. In a majority of Indian schools, Good Touch Bad Touch is taught to kids as a method to keep them safe from potential sexual abuse. In 2023, a teacher’s video showing her teaching kids “Good Touch Bad Touch” went viral on social media. Her efforts were lauded as being ‘progressive’ and people commented how such teachers should be present all over India. While the intention the teacher was certainly laudable, the method used to empower kids to recognize, respond and report sexual abuse was not just incorrect, but dangerous. 

Since the time it was introduced as a concept in the 90s, child counsellors, psychologists and researchers have studied child sexual abusers and paedophiles and have come to the conclusion that relying solely on this phrase is not be enough to ensure children’s safety. Giving kids incomplete concepts about child sexual abuse prevention can actually make them more vulnerable to other methods of grooming and sexual abuse. Here are four aspects to consider where the Good Touch Bad Toch concept fails. 

1. What if there is no touch involved in the abuse?

As the name suggests, Good Touch Bad Touch focuses only on touch. It does not teach a child how to respond to an unsafe situation if there is no touch involved. For example, when a child is shown pornography or told explicit jokes or asked to pose for pictures without their clothes. These are all examples of sexual abuse which are not covered in the limited scope of the Good Touch Bad Touch concept. 

2. What if the  touch feels good to the child?

With over 95% of child sexual abusers being people the child knows well or is related to, it is highly likely that the child likes and trusts the abuser. Sexual abuse often involves touching or stimulating private parts which are erogenous zones. So, it is possible and normal for a child to find this touch physiologically pleasurable even though it is not consensual or wanted. In the context of Good Touch Bad Touch, this can create a lot of confusion. When a child is told that touching private parts is bad touch, how can it feel good? Such confusion may prevent the child from reporting the abuse. They may also believe that since they felt good with the bad touch, there must be something wrong with them.

3. What if the child does not want to be touched anywhere and not just on the private parts?

The Good Touch Bad Touch concept fails to teach kids about consent. Children need to understand that they have the right to control what happens to their bodies, even if the touch seems harmless or “good.” Or even if the touch is from someone they know and trust. The Good Touch Bad Touch approach might focus more on identifying ‘bad’ touches rather than empowering children with the language and confidence to communicate boundaries or report discomfort.

4. What about helping kids to recognize and report the signs of grooming?

Predators often use grooming tactics that blur the lines between “good” and “bad” touches. Children might receive gifts, special treatment, or emotional manipulation alongside inappropriate touches, which can confuse them about what’s happening. Often “appropriate” or “innocent” touches like hugs and kisses are often done in front of the parents and family members without asking for the child’s consent. This gives the child the feeling that these touches are safe or good.

To enhance child safety, it’s crucial to go beyond “good touch, bad touch” and engage in ongoing conversations about body safety, consent, healthy relationships, and recognizing manipulative behaviours. Providing children with a broader understanding of personal boundaries, safe adults to confide in, and the right to say no helps empower them to navigate various situations confidently. Moreover, a comprehensive approach involves educating children about online safety, digital boundaries, and appropriate behaviour in virtual spaces.