Yes, thank you Elizabeth, Amy and others for this thread! I will training staff on this topic and likely include this on our next parent meeting agenda. Thank you again for these succinct, helpful resources.
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Shantel Ingram-Gholston
Director
Joyful Blessings
MI
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Original Message:
Sent: 05-31-2023 04:52 PM
From: Elizabeth Ravitch
Subject: Kids pulling down their pants
I second what River said!! Thanks so much for your help and these resources!
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Elizabeth Ravitch
Director
Kol Emet Preschool
PA
Original Message:
Sent: 05-31-2023 04:29 PM
From: H. Yang
Subject: Kids pulling down their pants
Dear Amy,
Thank you so much for taking time to share your professional opinions and the great resources. I ordered the books and downloaded the file.
Your expertise is very much appreciated!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
River Yang, Ph.D.
Director/Lead Teacher
Montessori Plus International
1535 Cooper Street, Missoula MT 59802
(406) 240-2523 MPI website MPI Facebook Page
Missoula's Top-quality Bilingual Pre-K School
Original Message:
Sent: 5/31/2023 11:20:00 AM
From: Amy Lang
Subject: RE: Kids pulling down their pants
Hi! Childhood sexuality expert chiming in! Yes to pretty much all of this! This behavior is developmentally typical, for sure, however, there was some advice to ignore it. This isn't a good idea because kids need to know it's not OK or safe to show, look at, or touch (other people's) private parts. The only way for them to know this is if they are told in a kind way. A quick reminder about the body rules and a convo with parents is the way to go with something like this. Glad to hear that happened an you figured out what was going on a home.
So happy to hear you are looking for books that don't use "good touch / bad touch." Safe touch is what's said now, as "good touch" implies a value judgement, like being a good or bad kid.
As for books!
- I Can Play it Safe is great
- It's MY Body (old but great - it looks like 1982 when it was written, but the messages are great)
- C is for Consent
This is a guide to sexual behavior in children that addresses this very topic and includes a script for talking with kids about this stuff. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1068YZc1rBFvqs7MOK7uMW69ymKH9_A_5/view?usp=sharing
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Amy Lang
Sexuality Educator
Birds + Bees + Kids
WA
Original Message:
Sent: 05-25-2023 02:04 PM
From: Elizabeth Ravitch
Subject: Kids pulling down their pants
Hi Everyone,
Around once per year, a child decides that it is funny to pull their pants down and show the other kids their private parts. I know it is completely age appropriate, but I would love to have a book or two that we could read with the kids that addresses it. Every book I have found based on a web search focuses on "good touch/bad touch". While these books are great, they are not what I am looking for. Do any of you know of any books that just talk about keeping our private parts private and NOT good touch/bad touch? Thanks in advance for your help!
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Liz Ravitch
Director
Kol Emet Preschool
PA
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