Instructins fr Educatrs, Catechists, Yuth Ministers, and Other Caring Adults Getting started with Lessn 2: Principle: Catechism: Gal: Objectives: Children must respect their wn health and safety and the safety f thers. Respect fr the human persn cnsiders the ther anther self. It presuppses respect fr the fundamental rights that flw frm the dignity intrinsic f the persn. #1944 1 T assist educatrs, catechists, yuth ministers, and ther caring adults in teaching children hw t prevent r reduce the risk f sexual abuse. Upn cmpletin f this lessn, children shuld be better able t: Name their safe friends and safe adults. Identify special safe adults. Healthy questining at this age: Respnd in an apprpriate manner t unsafe situatins. Parents and guardians are the primary educatrs f their wn children. Teaching children the names f their private bdy parts is the respnsibility f parents. That learning prcess shuld begin when the child is apprximately 18 mnths ld. Therefre, children shuld knw the names f their private bdy parts by the time they get t kindergarten. Teachers, catechists, and yuth ministers shuld nt teach children the private bdy parts. Small children have a natural curisity abut bdy parts. They have lively and vivid imaginatins, are grwing less self-centered, and are becming mre cnscius f thers. Their attentin span is shrt apprximately 20 minutes. They build n cncrete experiences, lve t learn, and are highly inquisitive. Hwever, they rely almst entirely n thers t define gd and bad fr them. Parents shuld make every effrt t create an envirnment where children are free t ask questins abut life and their wn bdies. This early experience f hnesty and trust will set the stage fr each child s life-lng relatinships with significant adults. Children at this age ask questins relating t the differences in bdy parts between bys and girls. They are beginning t differentiate psitive and negative aspects f everyday life and are beginning t questin when adults expect blind bedience. At the same time, they are learning hw t respect and care fr their wn bdies in terms f hygiene, eating, and physical activities. Caregivers need t be pen, hnest, and available t answer questins crrectly with language that children can understand. This is the time t discuss safe and unsafe tuches s children can practice safety when they are away frm hme. 1 Liberia Editrice Vaticana (1997) Catechism f the Cathlic Church (2 nd Ed.) Washingtn D.C. United States Cathlic Cnference. Tuching Safety Cpyright 2004-2005 by Natinal Cathlic Services, LLC. All rights reserved. Page 1 f 4
Activity #1: Play the (ptinal) intrductry vide t begin the lessn: Nte t Teacher: The intrductry vide fr grades K thrugh 5 is designed t pen a simple discussin with children abut tuching safety and persnal bundaries. The vide is apprximately six (6) minutes lng and is neither created nr intended as a substitute fr the lessn itself. It is merely an intrductin designed t break the ice amng thse in this age grup and t get everyne talking abut the relevant persnal bundary and persnal safety issues. Imprtantly, the vide will get children fcused n the tpic matter, which will help the teacher t facilitate an easy transitin int the interactive activities within the lessn. These interactive activities are the critical cmpnents where children have a real pprtunity t learn hw t prtect themselves. We recmmend that yu watch the vide in advance at least a cuple f times prir t shwing it t yur students, s yu ll be able t mre easily anticipate when the vide will end. The vide really needs n intrductin. Just put it int the machine, and hit play. If yu re using a DVD versin f the vide, yu ll select the English r Spanish versin and the apprpriate age grup frm a menu screen. If yu re using a VHS versin f the vide, yu ll need t cue the tape t the crrect versin prir t yur class time. Activity #2: Review and discuss the vcabulary wrds: Safe friend/safe adult/safe tuch wn t hurt the child withut a gd reasn and wn t cnfuse r scare the child intentinally. They are sure t respect the child s wishes and the wishes and the rules f the child s parents, guardians, and caretakers when it cmes t persnal safety including tuching safety. Unsafe friend/unsafe adult/unsafe tuch unsafe friends, unsafe adults, and unsafe tuches put a child at risk fr emtinal, spiritual, and physical harm. These are peple wh place a child in danger fr their wn purpses withut cncern fr the welfare f the child. Special safe adult special safe adults such as a child s mther, father, dctr, r nurse are thse very few special adults wh can see r tuch a child s private bdy parts, but nly t help keep the child clean and healthy, and nly when the child is sick r needs help. Activity #3: Learning t identify safe tuches and unsafe tuches Directins: In preparing fr this activity, review Teaching Tuching Safety: A Guide fr Parents, Guardians, and Other Caring Adults. Review the terms safe tuch, unsafe tuch, and safe adult and review the Tuching Rules. Safe Adults are peple wh tuch nly in ways that are safe. Peple wh dn t hurt withut a gd reasn (e.g., if a nurse gives a child a sht, it will hurt but, the sht is fr a gd reasn). Peple wh dn t cnfuse r scare yu n purpse withut a gd reasn (e.g., if smene alerts yu that there s a fire in yur building helps yu escape but, alerting yu t a fire and helping yu escape is a gd reasn t scare yu). Safe adults respect yur wishes and yur parent s rules. Remind children that mst tuches are safe. Begin Activity: Listen carefully s yu can be ready t ht and hller. If I name a safe tuch, raise yur fist in air and yell rah, rah. On the ther hand, if I name an unsafe tuch, d a thumbs dwn and shut b, hiss, b. Yur mther gives yu hug when yu wake up. Yur father gives yu a kiss after tucking yu int bed. Tmmy gives yu a high five when yu win the game. Smene says they want t tuch yur private bdy parts r, they try withut even asking. Yur cat purrs and rubs arund yur leg. Tuching Safety Cpyright 2004-2005 by Natinal Cathlic Services, LLC. All rights reserved. Page 2 f 4
Smene at schl says they want t take yu dwn a dark hallway t shw yu smething. The stranger behind yu in church tries t shake yur hand during the peace greeting. Yur friendly dg is wagging its tail and licking yur face. The next-dr neighbr child pushes yu dwn n the sidewalk. Smene is running dwn a hallway at schl and a teacher reaches ut and puts a hand n the persn s shulder t stp them frm running and pssibly falling. Ask each child t add an example f a gd tuch and a bad tuch. Special Safe Adults Talk abut special safe adults with children. A child s life may include a number f safe adults, but there are nly a few select peple wh have the right t tuch a child s private bdy parts. Special safe adults are the nly peple wh may see r tuch a child s private bdy parts, and nly fr the purpse f keeping the child clean and healthy. Parents r guardians will tell yu wh, f the adults in yur life, are special safe adults and when these special safe adults have permissin t tuch yur private bdy parts. N ne has the right t tuch yur private bdy parts except these special peple and they can tuch yur private bdy parts nly under certain circumstances t keep yu clean and healthy. Special safe adults are thse wh have permissin t help yu take a bath, g t the bathrm with yu if yu need help, t help yu put clthes n r change clthes, r t help yu when yu are sick. Activity #4: Cmpleting Passprt t Tuching Safety Directins: Remember the Passprt the children created during Lessn 1? Yur students will finish their Passprts tday by cmpleting the inside pages regarding safe tuches and safe adults. Begin by ging ver the list f safe tuches in the Passprt pages and have the children add t the list. Help children list r draw pictures f the safe adults in their life and the adults that parents r guardians have identified as special safe adults. Remind the children t shw their Passprt t their parent(s) r guardian(s). Nte: In case yu have students wh did nt participate in Lessn 1, teachers may need t dwnlad and print the passprt template frm the VIRTUS Online website t prepare additinal cpies. G t www.virtus.rg and lg in with yur user id and passwrd. Then, click the Educatrs tab at the tp f the screen. Fllw the instructins in the main (white) area f the screen t select yur age grup (K-2), this lessn plan (Lessn 2), and click frward thrugh the successive screens until yu reach the screen titled Tuching Safety Supprting Materials. At the bttm f that screen (beneath the instructins abut the saint), yu ll find a place t dwnlad and print the template fr the passprt. Supplies: Making the Passprt: Inside: Crayns, clred pencils, felt tipped markers During Lessn 1, children created and persnalized their Passprts by flding the pre-printed 8½ x 11 sheet f cnstructin paper r white cpier type paper in half t frm a Passprt bklet, by drawing their wn picture n the frnt cver f the Passprt, and by starting t wrk n the inside pages. Fr the purpse f this lessn, children will cmplete the inside pages. The inside f the Passprt includes the fllwing pages: One page fr drawing and clring riginal artwrk t illustrate safe tuches. One page fr drawing and clring riginal artwrk t illustrate safe and special safe adults. Additinally, the back cver lists the tuching safety rules. Tuching Safety Cpyright 2004-2005 by Natinal Cathlic Services, LLC. All rights reserved. Page 3 f 4
Discussin: While the children are creating their Passprts, the teacher shuld use the pprtunity t again reinfrce the tuching safety rules: N ne has the right t tuch a child s private bdy parts except t keep him r her clean and healthy and then, nly a few special safe adults have that right as designated by the child s parents. If smene tries t tuch a child s private bdy parts r wants the child t tuch their private bdy parts, the child shuld: Say N! Run away. Tell a parent r ther safe adult what happened. Suggested prayer t end the lessn: Dear Gd, Even thugh we are each special and different, there are ways that we are alike because yu made each f us in yur image. Help me t remember t respect myself just as I want thers t respect me. Help me t live as yu have cmmanded me t live, and guide me in times f cnfusin and uncertainty. And, help me t remember, Gd, that in yur lving presence I will always be safe and prtected. Amen Alternate prayer: Dear Gd, Smetimes when things happen, I get scared. Smetimes I just get mixed up like when a persn I care abut des smething that makes me feel creepy r scared. When that happens, help me remember that I am special and that I shuld tell smene what happened. Thank yu fr lving me and fr giving me teachers and parents wh want t keep me safe and happy. Amen Tuching Safety Cpyright 2004-2005 by Natinal Cathlic Services, LLC. All rights reserved. Page 4 f 4
Tuching Safety Rules My Passprt Yur special safe adults are the nly peple wh have permissin t tuch yur private bdy parts. Yur special safe adults may tuch yur private bdy parts nly t keep yu clean and healthy. Ask yur parents t tell yu wh yur special safe adults are. If smene tries t tuch yur private bdy parts r wants yu t tuch their private bdy parts, yu shuld: Say N! Run away. Tell yur parents r anther safe adult what happened. First Name:
Here are sme examples f safe tuches. Draw a picture f ne f yur safe adults in this bx. Draw a picture f ne f yur special safe adults in this bx. 1. A friend giving yu a high five when yu win a game. 2. Mmmy dancing with yu t fun music. 3. Grandpa hugging yu as the tw f yu twirl in circles. 4. Yur friendly dg wagging its tail and licking yur face. 5. Hlding grandma s hand really tight when yu ride the rller caster tgether. Draw a picture f yur favrite safe tuch in this bx.