Home » ExchangeEveryDay » Body Ownership



ExchangeEveryDay Past Issues


<< Previous Issue | View Past Issues | | Next Issue >> ExchangeEveryDay
Body Ownership
May 7, 2007
Friends are those rare people who ask how we are and then wait to hear the answer.
-Ed Cunningham

In her book, Essential Touch: Meeting the Needs of Young Children (Washington, DC, NAEYC, 2006), Frances Carlson talks about the concept of body ownership as it applies to young children...

"As children become aware of what types of touch from others they enjoy and what makes them uncomfortable, they are beginning to develop the concept of body ownership �" that they have an inherent right to control when, where, and how they are touched. Likewise, they can begin learning that everyone else shares this same right, and they should respect those wishes in how they touch other people.

"The message of body ownership is that children have a right both to reject unwanted contact and to seek affirming touch. Without an understanding of this concept, children may struggle with social skills, and they are left particularly vulnerable to abuse. Without a strong sense of body ownership, children do not know how to respond to the experience of uncomfortable, harmful, or abusive touch. Having that sense allows children to recognize when touch may have been inappropriate or abusive, so they can report this touch to a trusted caregiver or parent.

"An important corollary to a child's developing a sense of body ownership is for the people around the child, especially the adults, to understand and accept that they do not have the right to touch the child at will. Many adults, especially within families, have been brought up to feel entitled to touch a child whenever and however they want, but this view is at odds with what is best for the children themselves....

"...a teacher should have solid reasons for being confident the child will welcome a touch before giving it. Asking and getting the child's permission before touching is one way to assess how the child would feel about it, especially when the child and teacher don't yet know and trust each other.... In the situations in which asking permission is called for, the experience of being asked and responding emphasizes body ownership and gives children practice in the giving or declining of permission."



Five Out of Box Kits for the Price of Four

Now on the Exchange web site you can purchase five online Out of the Box Training Kits for the price of four. And any additional online Kits you purchase will qualify for a 20% discount as well. These kits provide you all the tools and strategies you need for staff training sessions on more than 60 topics. Check them out here!

ExchangeEveryDay

Delivered five days a week containing news, success stories, solutions, trend reports, and much more.

What is ExchangeEveryDay?

ExchangeEveryDay is the official electronic newsletter for Exchange Press. It is delivered five days a week containing news stories, success stories, solutions, trend reports, and much more.

Nursery Maid - Our Prices include FREE SHIPPING!
Quality Furniture for Childcare Centers Because Children Deserve the Feel of Home. Visit our website to see our award winning Cribs, Evacuation Cribs, Playlofts and more. www.nurserymaid.com


Comments (1)

Displaying 1 Comment
Cindy Higgins · March 30, 2011
Creative Frontiers Preschool
Citrus Heights, CA, United States


I am looking for information to update our Safe Touch Policy and would like any information you may have referencing this issue. Thank you very much.



Post a Comment

Have an account? to submit your comment.


required

Your e-mail address will not be visible to other website visitors.
required
required
required

Check the box below, to help verify that you are not a bot. Doing so helps prevent automated programs from abusing this form.



Disclaimer: Exchange reserves the right to remove any comments at its discretion or reprint posted comments in other Exchange materials.