Tips to educate children about sexual violence

Creating secure environments that support children's growth and development includes having open conversations with them regarding sexual assault. Here's how to educate children about sexual violence

Every kid is entitled to an abusive-free childhood and maintaining children’s safety involves talking to them about sexual abuse. That's because talking offers your child a language to discuss this issue and helps them comprehend what sexual assault is and additionally, candid and open discussions convey to your child that they can talk to you at any time and that you will always listen.

In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Samarthya Bhatnagar, Co-Founder of Bodsphere, suggested, “You can start by bringing up sexual assault in discussions about relationships, respect and personal growth. For instance, you may bring up positive aspects of trusting relationships, such as experiencing love and having fun but you may also add that it's not acceptable when relationships cause people to feel unsafe, unwelcome or bullied. Creating secure environments that support children's growth and development includes having open conversations with them regarding sexual assault.”

He added, “This Yogic Principle is something that should be taught to the children. At the same time, following the Yogic Philosophy of Satya or truth is something that the children should be aware of. Speaking the truth without any fear is the right of every child. When anything is wrong or they don't feel comfortable, children's bodies offer them warning signs. A child should be able to recognise the signals in a sexually risky scenario too if he can recognise the signs in any unsafe circumstance. Yoga can also help the children become more aware of their thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations. It provides an opportunity for them to reconnect with their mental and physical experience, and to build confidence in being able to guide their thoughts and actions through intentional movement and focus.”