Have You Forgotten the Most Important Safety Rules?

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What are your safety rules? Wear helmets, don’t stick your finger in an outlet, buckle up, look both ways before crossing the street, . . . things like that? How about body safety rules? Do you have rules for that?

If you only read one parenting book this month, read Off Limits, A Parents Guide to Keeping Kids Safe from Sexual Abuse by Sandy K. Wurtele, Ph.D. and Feather Berkower, M.S.W. . You might realize that like me, you forgot the most important rules of allbody safety rules.

Body Safety Rules

Body Safety Rules I met Berkower at a neighbor’s house. She gave an all day “Parenting Safe Children” workshop for a group of couples. Honestly, I dreaded the workshop. I mean talking about sex, rape, abuse, and incest scared me!

But, the amazing thing was how much the class helped me NOT to be scared. Berkower’s goal, which is the same in her book, is that parents know enough to make their children safe from predators.

Why? Because one in three girls and one in seven boys are sexually abused by age 18. And if you think that’s frightening, consider this –those are just the cases that are reported!

Berkower asked my parent friends and me to brainstorm our safety rules just like I asked you earlier. So, we wrote an extensive list.

She stared at us, silent.

“Why don’t you have any rules about body safety?” she asked with intensity.

Um. Huh?

Berkower was and is adamant. Parents must teach Body-Safety Rules throughout a child’s life. Weekly, daily. Not just once. Rules such as:

  • No one is allowed to touch your private parts.
  • If someone tries to touch your private parts, say NO!
  • and more.

And she gives parents Off-Limits Rules, too such as:

  • You have a right to choose how you demonstrate affection. (in other words, no mandatory hugs or kisses.)
  • You are the boss of your body. “Children who understand that their bodies belong to them and that no one else has the right to touch or look at their private parts are children who will be less vulnerable to sexual abuse.”
  • and more.

Another point that Berkower makes and differs from others is this — (and I agree from personal experience) is this: Don’t wait for your child to start the conversation. “Your child may never ask, but he or she still needs to know. It’s a parent’s responsibility to introduce the topic, little by little, and to do it frequently,” Berkower writes in the Off Limits book.

I bought this book and read it quickly. It’s a well-written and easy to read. More importantly, it’s full of essential parenting information to keep your child safe from predators. I want you all to read it, too. Go to Parenting Safe Children for more information on her workshops. Then buy and read Off Limits.

Recommended Body Safety Books for Kids

Get recommended Books about Body Safety from The Children’s Book Review.

My Body! What I Say Goes!: A book to empower and teach children about personal body safety, feelings, safe and unsafe touch, private parts, secrets and surprises, consent, and respectful relationshipsMy Body! What I Say Goes!: A book to empower and teach children about personal body safety, feelings, safe and unsafe touch, private parts, secrets and surprises, consent, and respectful relationshipsMy Body! What I Say Goes!: A book to empower and teach children about personal body safety, feelings, safe and unsafe touch, private parts, secrets and surprises, consent, and respectful relationshipsNo Means No!: Teaching children about personal boundaries, respect and consent; empowering kids by respecting their choices and their right to say, 'No!'No Means No!: Teaching children about personal boundaries, respect and consent; empowering kids by respecting their choices and their right to say, ‘No!’No Means No!: Teaching children about personal boundaries, respect and consent; empowering kids by respecting their choices and their right to say, 'No!'I Said No! A Kid-to-kid Guide to Keeping Private Parts PrivateI Said No! A Kid-to-kid Guide to Keeping Private Parts PrivateI Said No! A Kid-to-kid Guide to Keeping Private Parts PrivateYour Body Belongs to YouYour Body Belongs to YouYour Body Belongs to YouGod Made All of Me: A Book to Help Children Protect Their BodiesGod Made All of Me: A Book to Help Children Protect Their BodiesGod Made All of Me: A Book to Help Children Protect Their BodiesMy Body's Mine: A Book on Body Boundaries and Sexual Abuse Prevention (Can-Do Kids Series 1)My Body’s Mine: A Book on Body Boundaries and Sexual Abuse Prevention (Can-Do Kids Series 1)My Body's Mine: A Book on Body Boundaries and Sexual Abuse Prevention (Can-Do Kids Series 1)My Body Belongs to Me from My Head to My ToesMy Body Belongs to Me from My Head to My ToesMy Body Belongs to Me from My Head to My ToesSome Secrets Should Never Be KeptSome Secrets Should Never Be KeptSome Secrets Should Never Be KeptMiles is the Boss of His Body (Safety)Miles is the Boss of His Body (Safety)Miles is the Boss of His Body (Safety)Amazing You!: Getting Smart About Your Private PartsAmazing You!: Getting Smart About Your Private PartsAmazing You!: Getting Smart About Your Private PartsInside Out:Your Body is Amazing Inside and Out and Belongs Only to You, Color Colorized VersionInside Out:Your Body is Amazing Inside and Out and Belongs Only to You, Color Colorized VersionInside Out:Your Body is Amazing Inside and Out and Belongs Only to You, Color Colorized Version

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13 Comments

  1. Your post is so helpful because I was like you, don’t really want to delve into this topic at a workshop. Thank you for such good reminder on keeping our kids safe! I will be sure to have that conversation with my kids again!

    1. I like how Berkower suggests teachable moments in the bath, swimming pool, etc. to help us make this part of routine conversation.

  2. My co-workers scoff at me when I told them I was having the drug talk with my 3 yr. old. Your post is a great reminder that there are other concerns as well. I definitely need to get this book.

  3. Think it is so important to keep having these conversations over and over again in small bytes. Thanks for sharing this resource.

  4. As our kids grow and become more independent in the world having such rules and conversations becomes critical. I’m so glad to hear that instead of raising your fears, the knowledge in this book helped you to calm them.

    Thank you for reminding me to have some conversations with my kids. NOW. (well, when they get home from school, anyway).