TALKING ABOUT TOUCHING
Sample Lessons
Lesson 11: Using the Touching Rule with Peers—Asking for Help
Bold type indicates what the teacher says during the lesson.
Concept
When older or bigger children try to break the Touching Rule, it is important to ask for help.
Objectives
Children will be able to:
- Demonstrate knowledge that the Touching Rule also applies to peers.
- Demonstrate knowledge that they can ask for help on behalf of a friend.
- Identify grown-ups they can ask for help.
Materials
You will need the Safety Steps poster
Notes to the Teacher
Adults are not the only ones who victimize children. There are also instances when a more physically or emotionally powerful peer abuses a younger or weaker child. Adults need to intervene in these situations and not expect a child to handle them on her or his own. Sometimes, one child may need to ask for help on behalf of another child who is being victimized. This lesson introduces the idea that children can ask for help for someone else.
Warm-Up/Review
We've talked about the Touching Rule. If someone breaks the Touching Rule and tries to touch your private body parts-and it's not to keep you clean and healthy-there are three important Safety Steps to follow. Let's all say them together. Point to the Safety Steps poster as the children join in: (1) Say words that mean "No"; (2) Get away; and (3) Tell a grown-up.
What would you do if someone told you to keep a secret about touching? (Tell a grown-up anyway.)
Story and Discussion
Today, we're going to talk about what to do if another child breaks the Touching Rule with you.
Show picture. Rosalie is in second grade. There is a boy third grade who chased her and tried to touch her private body parts. Here, Rosalie's asking the playground supervisor for help.
- What kind of touch was that? (Unsafe touch.) The boy broke the Touching Rule.
- How do you think Rosalie felt? (Upset, scared, shy.)
- Rosalie asked the playground supervisor for help. Whom would you tell if this happened to you at school? (Mom, dad, teacher, nurse, counselor, principal.)
- Whom would you tell if this happened to you in your neighborhood? (Mom, dad, neighbor, teacher, big brother.)
- What would you say?
- If this happened to a friend of yours who was afraid to tell, what could you do to help? (Tell a grown-up about it.)
Activity
Whom would you go to for help if another child tried to:
- Break the Touching Rule at a girls' and boys' club?
- Pull down your friend's bathing suit at a swimming pool?
- Break the Touching Rule on the bus?
- Pull down your pants while you were playing outside?
- Touch your friend's private body parts at the movies?
- Break the Touching Rule at an after-school program?
- Touch your private body parts on the playground?
- Touch your friend's private body parts when you were walking home from school together?
Summary
Remember, the Touching Rule also applies to other children. Children should not touch your private body parts for any reason. If they do, follow the Safety Steps. Let's say them together: (1) Say words that mean "No"; (2) Get away; and (3) Tell a grown-up. If you know of someone else who has a touching problem but is afraid to get help, ask a grown-up to help.