ExchangeEveryDay Past Issues

In her book, Essential Touch: Meeting the Needs of Young Children (Washington, DC, NAEYC, 2006), Frances Carlson talks about the concept of body ownership as it applies to young children...

"As children become aware of what types of touch from others they enjoy and what makes them uncomfortable, they are beginning to develop the concept of body ownership �" that they have an inherent right to control when, where, and how they are touched. Likewise, they can begin learning that everyone else shares this same right, and they should respect those wishes in how they touch other people.

"The message of body ownership is that children have a right both to reject unwanted contact and to seek affirming touch. Without an understanding of this concept, children may struggle with social skills, and they are left particularly vulnerable to abuse. Without a strong sense of body ownership, children do not know how to respond to the experience of uncomfortable, harmful, or abusive touch. Having that sense allows children to recognize when touch may have been inappropriate or abusive, so they can report this touch to a trusted caregiver or parent.

"An important corollary to a child's developing a sense of body ownership is for the people around the child, especially the adults, to understand and accept that they do not have the right to touch the child at will. Many adults, especially within families, have been brought up to feel entitled to touch a child whenever and however they want, but this view is at odds with what is best for the children themselves....

"...a teacher should have solid reasons for being confident the child will welcome a touch before giving it. Asking and getting the child's permission before touching is one way to assess how the child would feel about it, especially when the child and teacher don't yet know and trust each other.... In the situations in which asking permission is called for, the experience of being asked and responding emphasizes body ownership and gives children practice in the giving or declining of permission."

Now on the Exchange web site you can purchase five online Out of the Box Training Kits for the price of four. And any additional online Kits you purchase will qualify for a 20% discount as well. These kits provide you all the tools and strategies you need for staff training sessions on more than 60 topics. Check them out here!

ExchangeEveryDay

Delivered five days a week containing news, success stories, solutions, trend reports, and much more.