It's summer, a time for all of us to relax and enjoy the sunshine. This time of year, many of our children will be busy running through the sprinkler or frequenting the local pool. They will be wearing their swimsuits, and this gives parents an opportunity to start a conversation with their children about private parts - the parts of their bodies covered by their swimsuits. Giving children the anatomically correct names for those parts- penis, vagina, buttocks, and breasts- is important for many reasons. Offenders are less likely to target children who have correct terminology for their body parts. Also, a child who knows the names of his or her body parts will be able to tell a parent or other trusted adult specifically what happened if someone does touch them.

Remind your child that if anybody, an adult or a child, ever tries to look at or touch their private parts that they should come tell you or another trusted adult immediately. There might be a time when a parent or a doctor needs to look at or touch a child's body, but that is to keep the child safe, clean and healthy.  Your child is the boss of his or her body, and the parts covered by their swimsuit are off limits to other people.   

 As parents, it is our job to give our children the tools in life that will help keep them safe.  When they ride their bike, we nag them to wear their helmet.  We teach them to buckle up when they get into the car.  Having a conversation with your children about private parts and body safety is the same.  It is not a one time talk, but an ongoing conversation that shows kids this is important and that it is a safe subject to discuss with you.  The book The Swimsuit Lesson by Jon Holsten can help get this conversation started. It is a beautifully written and illustrated book about a mom having this talk with her two children when they are on a break from running through the sprinkler. 

 Empowering children with this knowledge can reduce the chance that they will become victims, and increase the likelihood that they will disclose abuse if something ever does happen to them.  So go tell your kids to put their swimsuits on and start talking.     

 For more information on talking to your kids please contact me at 303-444-1388 or email me at [email protected].