Body safety refers to the idea that every individual has the right to feel safe, secure, and respected in relation to their body. It is a set of teachings, practices, and guidelines designed to empower individuals, particularly children, with the knowledge and skills necessary to understand, assert, and protect their physical boundaries, personal space, and bodily autonomy.

Body safety education is used to empower individuals, (specially children) with the knowledge and skills to protect themselves from abuse, recognize inappropriate behaviour, and seek help when needed. It involves recognizing private body parts, understanding appropriate and inappropriate touches, and learning to establish boundaries to protect oneself from potential harm.

Let’s look at what body safety education covers.

Consent: Consent is the voluntary and enthusiastic agreement to engage in a particular activity, be it physical contact, communication, or any other form of interaction. Kids learn about giving and receiving permission for physical contact. They understand that they have the right to say “no” to unwanted touch, and others should respect their decisions. They also learn the importance of seeking consent before touching others.

Body Boundaries: Empowering children to recognize their own comfort levels and set personal boundaries regarding physical contact or interactions with others. Children learn about personal space, understanding that they have the right to set boundaries around their bodies and decide who can touch them and how.

Safe / Unsafe Behaviour: Educating children to identify potentially harmful situations, such as inappropriate advances, uncomfortable touch, or actions that make them feel unsafe or uneasy. Children learn that safe behaviour is respectful, appropriate, and usually occurs with permission from a trusted person. Unsafe behaviour involves actions that make them uncomfortable, scared, or confused. This also includes  never keeping any secrets from parents about anything no matter how small.

Private parts: Children are taught the correct names for their body parts (including all their private parts to ensure correct communication and reducing confusion or shame. This helps children tell an adult about any unsafe incidents. 

Early Warning Signs: Children learn to recognize and understand their emotions, including feelings of discomfort or unease. They are encouraged to express their feelings and concerns assertively and seek help when needed.

Safety Network: Children learn to identify trusted adults, such as parents, caregivers, teachers, or family members, whom they can turn to if they have concerns or encounter uncomfortable situations. 

Safety Strategies: Children are taught practical strategies like knowing when and how to say “no,” seeking help from trusted adults, leaving unsafe situations and recognizing signs of potential abuse. Having a warning word is that only the parents and child know is a useful way for the child to let the parents know if they are feeling unsafe.

All children must be taught these concepts to help them recognize and report unsafe behaviour. When taught at a young age, these concepts can help shape a child’s future relationships to be healthy and based on mutual respect. These concepts are best introduced with examples as well as books and reinforced regularly with age-appropriate information that children can relate to.