Teaching children smart ways to stay safe

Staff Reporter

CHENNAI: Does your child know the ‘touching rules?’ Learning to differentiate between a good touch and a bad touch could be a crucial in children’s safety. ‘Tickles and hugs – Learning the touching rules’ is aimed at just that – teaching children smart ways to keep themselves safe.

An initiative of Tulir – Centre for the Prevention and Healing of Child Sexual Abuse, ‘Tickles and hugs …’ is an audio book on personal safety for children, which was launched at Landmark here on Wednesday. The audio book is a production of Karadi Tales and the project has been supported by ActionAid India.

Joint Secretary to the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development Loveleen Kacker, who launched it, said that a study conducted earlier this year brought out the instances of physical, sexual and emotional abuses children encountered.

The National-level study, commissioned by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, revealed that over 53 percent of the children in a sample size of about 14,000, had been sexually abused. “Abuse is highest among children in the age group of 5 to 12 years.” It was shocking that those children who are usually accompanied by adults are among the most abused lot, she said. She urged parents to seek help from lawyers, the police, counsellors and non-governmental organisations.

Actor Revathy, who has narrated the story in the audio book, said it was important to listen to what a child has to say. “They do not lie, unless we teach them to, and talking to children is easier than speaking to adults,” she said.

The human body knew when someone’s touch is not right, and only if one is willing to listen will a child report an incident of abuse, she said.

Sensitive issue

Shobha Viswanath of Karadi Tales said great care was taken while scripting the story as the issue was sensitive. The book has stories revolving around episodes of abuse and how a child needs to report them to a trustworthy adult.

Vidya Reddy of Tulir said the Tamil version of the audio book, ‘Kattipidi kichu kichu mootu – Thodudal vidhiyai therinjukalama?’, was launched at the Corporation Primary School in Koyambedu earlier on Wednesday. Students were very receptive to the content dealt with in the audio book, which was enacted by students of Women’s Christian College.

[ Source: http://www.hindu.com/2007/08/30/stories/2007083058980200.htm ]