Bodily Autonomy

[e_p]

I'm not convinced of the link to sexual abuse. Usually this is perpetrated by someone a child is already comfortable with. I believe you strongly reinforce what is inappropriate touching, even to very young children.

I agree with this. Having said that, I can see how raising children who expect that their boundaries will be respected would be a protective factor for preventing abuse...as children, adolescents AND adults.

I liked the article and it made me aware of some things I hadn't thought of. I have always narrated to C about what we're doing & why we're doing it, I think out of instinct. My midwife was the first to do this for my DS and I found it really affirming - she never touched C without explaining why she needed to, and always reassured him (eg explained when we were clamping & cutting the umbilical cord, when she weighed him, did the heel ***** etc). I loved that she was being so respectful and considered about our baby's needs.

I have fallen into the trap a few times of apologising, or saying things like 'ohh that's not very nice' if he's cried when friends or family have held him. I'm glad I read this now so I can stop it before he was old enough to understand what I was saying. I don't want him to feel like he's doing something wrong when he expresses that he isn't comfortable with something/someone.

OP - thanks for sharing!

[Lolpigs]

This is an interesting read thanks for sharing!

I would have to agree, that so long as you reinforce as a parent what is appropriate and what is not, some annoying stranger isnt going to affect them too much.

I do the naration thing naturally, I believe language skills come from listening to lots of it and being spoken too alot as a child, so I babble away to DD alot. I say things like "Lets change that dirty nappy" etc Who wants to operate in silence.. or maybe its just me haha

Yeah I agree about the sexual abuse thing, I'm not too convinced. Generally we get too hung up on warning about strangers, and the majority of sexual abuse is perpertrated by someone in the childs family, or someone they trust (family friend etc).

That mention about asians, yeah that is a cultrual thing too. Not only is blonde hair blue eyes a rarity there, they also value children very highly so if someone compliments their children and talks to them they are very pleased and happy and want you to continue. I guess you could have explained to your son if he was a little older the different perspective. I was a blonde haired blue eyed fair skinned child and remember a few times on holidays where asian tourists took photos with me. I was older though around 10 or 12? So my mum could explain to me the who and whys so it wasn't that big of a deal.

Interesting!