My Body is Special and Private

This introduction to body safety is designed to empower and educate the youngest of readers to understand that their bodies are special and deserving of respect, and that it is always right to tell. As a survivor, advocate and mother I believe introducing body safety education to children at a young age is essential to normalizing the conversation and supporting the importance of bodily autonomy and appropriate behaviors. While there are a number of good books on this topic, I found that many were too complex for children and families just starting conversations about body safety. This book addresses four main lessons:
1. Your body is special and it belongs to you
2. Private parts are the parts of our body covered by bathing suits/underwear
3. We do not look/touch each other's private parts
4. It is always right to tell if someone has shared or touched private parts

I hope you will use this simple book as a launching point for further discussions regarding body safety in your daily life. Bathtime/potty are great opportunities to remind children these parts are private. Respecting a child's wishes when they do not want to be hugged/touched/tickled enforce the idea that they have a right to decide how to be touched. Please visit: TheMamaBearEffect.org for more information and down-to-earth tips to help keep your children safe and empowered to know that abuse is NEVER their fault.