Thread by @docbhooshan

A while ago, with @ngkabra and @meetalks i tried to simplify NO GO TELL model to prevent child sex abuse. Our work is open for anyone to use - nobadtouch.com

Today, i will try to explain why "good touch-bad touch" is a bad way of teaching kids.

I have worked with abused children and few abusers as part of my professional work for over 20 years.
Abusers spend weeks and months "grooming" a child. This involves many things but being able to touch a child without raising alarm is a big part of this grooming.

This touch is usually interpreted as innocuous by the child. Sometimes it is even comforting.

THIS is the reason we mental health professionals NEVER use hyphenated "good touch-badtouch".

A child should be taught to identify ONLY bad touch.
Adding good touch to the equation and expecting a child to differentiate between the two in emotionally charged moments is ridiculous.

In spite of this reality media continues to use "good touch-bad touch" as if it a single word and it is illegal to use only "bad touch" as a word.
This is media's unhealthy obsession with catchy rhyming phrases.

Many misdirected people who want to protect children continue same highphenation are actually hurting the cause.

If you really want to protect children , please, please, please just educate them about bad touch and step to protect themselves like "NO - Go - Tell" (details on nobadtouch.com )

Most so called educators cram so much of agenda in this single session that children miss the core message.
Why do people find it so difficult to understand that this is a safety message. It needs to be given in an unambiguous way. Easy to follow steps are helpful.

Anything that required thinking is NOT going to help a child.

Keeping all other agendas of gender sensitivity, consent, sexuality and sex education OUT of a safety training is vital.

If you are tempted to justify such mixing of agendas while talking to young children about a safety issue, something is not okay.
Either your need is too strong or you don't know how young children learn. Probably both.

Please don't use anything other than "bad touch" identification in such programs.
Many children have been helped by this message. Many abusers are brought to book with this.
Be good, educate only about bad touch.

Thanks for reading my rant.