Free lesson with a practice sheet
Safe and unsafe touch
A gentle lesson on safe and unsafe touch, our body belongs to us, and how to say no and tell a trusted adult.
Let us begin
The big idea
Your body is yours. You have the right to feel safe all the time. This lesson will help you know which touches are safe and what to do if something feels wrong. You can always talk to a grown-up you trust.
A safe touch makes us feel good, loved and cared for. A hug from a parent, a pat on the back from a teacher or a high five from a friend are safe touches. A doctor may also need to check us, with a parent present.
An unsafe touch makes us feel scared, upset or uncomfortable. It may hurt us, or someone may touch the private parts of our body that are covered by underwear. Nobody should do this, and it is never the child's fault.
If a touch feels wrong, we can say no in a loud, clear voice. We can move away and go to a safe place. Then we must tell a trusted adult, such as a parent, a teacher or a grandparent. If the first adult does not listen, tell another until someone helps.
We should never keep a secret that makes us feel bad or scared. A good surprise, like a birthday gift, is fine, but a secret about touch is never okay. Trusted adults are there to help and to believe us.
Worked examples
See how it works
A safe touch
Grandmother gives Asha a warm hug when she comes home. Asha feels happy and safe. This is a safe touch.
A touch that feels wrong
Someone touches Ravi in a way that makes him feel scared and tells him to keep it a secret. Ravi says no loudly, goes away and tells his mother. He did the right thing.
Telling a trusted adult
Meena makes a list of five grown-ups she trusts: her mother, her father, her aunt, her teacher and her neighbour. She knows she can tell any of them.
Try it at home
My trusted adults hand
You will need
- A sheet of paper
- A pencil
- Crayons
What to do
Trace your hand on the paper.
On each of the five fingers, write the name of a grown-up you trust.
Colour the hand and keep it where you can see it.
Practise saying in a loud voice: No! Stop! I will tell.
Talk with an adult about what you can do if something ever feels wrong.
An adult can listen calmly, thank the child for sharing and make sure the child knows they are never in trouble for telling.
Practice sheet
Check what you learned
Practice sheet: Safe and unsafe touch (Classes 3-5, Health and safety)
- Whose body is yours?
- Give an example of a safe touch.
- How does an unsafe touch make us feel?
- What can you say if a touch feels wrong?
- Where should you go?
- Who can you tell?
- What if the first adult does not listen?
- Is it ever the child's fault if someone touches them in the wrong way?
- Should you keep a secret that makes you feel scared?
- Name three adults you trust.
Answer key
Answers: Safe and unsafe touch
- Mine. My body belongs to me.
- Sample answers: a hug from a parent or a high five from a friend.
- Scared, upset or uncomfortable.
- No, in a loud, clear voice.
- To a safe place, away from that person.
- A parent, a teacher, a grandparent or another trusted adult.
- Tell another trusted adult until someone helps.
- No. It is never the child's fault.
- No. Tell a trusted adult.
- Sample answers: my mother, my father, my teacher.