protective behaviours

When we ignore a child who tells us - either verbally or with their body language - that they don't want to be touched, we are telling them that they have no right to speak out. We are teaching that their bodies are public property and if they speak out, they will be ignored.

A mother asks: "My question is regarding physical exploration between children. My little girl is 3.5 yrs and spends 1 day per week with my husband’s mother. On this day she often sees her cousins aged 5, 8, 11 and 13, all boys. She loves them all and has a fantastic time. I have noticed on a few occasions that when I go to pick her up…