Parents often teach their children many things—such as not talking to strangers, refusing food offered by others, and crossing the road only at red lights. However, conversations about bodily safety—specifically what is commonly referred to in child-friendly terms as "good touch" and "bad touch"—are less frequent in Indian households. If you haven't discussed this with your child yet, here is how you can teach them about good touch and bad touch.

Ways to teach children about good touch and bad touch
In today's world, it is a crucial responsibility for parents to educate their children about good touch and bad touch. Here are some methods that can help:

1. Use the right tone
First, parents need to understand that early childhood is the right time to discuss bodily safety. Do not assume that they are too young to learn about their body parts.

2. Tell children they are the 'boss' of their own bodies
Explain to children that they are in charge of their own bodies and that no one has the right to harm them. Encourage them to tell you immediately if anything like that happens.

3. Use the correct terms for body parts
Parents often avoid using the proper names for body parts, preferring nicknames instead. However, this is incorrect; children should know the accurate names for all their body parts.

4. Explain the meaning of good touch and bad touch
Explain that while physical contact from a family member is generally safe, the same contact from a stranger or a guest is not. Specifically, educate them about touching certain parts of the body and explain that this is considered "bad touch."

5. Rules and scripts can be helpful
Experts often use the "swimsuit rule" to help children understand which parts of the body are private and which are not. In this way, explain to children that no one is allowed to touch their covered body parts. Additionally, this can also be explained through storytelling.

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