Starshine Workshop: Healthy Touch, Good Boundaries, Safe Kids

Gr 2–5—Safety is always a big issue, and this program seeks to help children recognize how they can be safe when it comes to inappropriate touching. Good, bad, and wrong touching are covered in the 15-minute primary segment. Children are told that no one should touch any part of their body they would cover with a swimsuit without their permission. The adult hosts also discuss good and bad secrets, circles of comfort, and a three-step way to cope with potentially dangerous situations. This information is presented in a class setting with a group of involved students. Three vignettes offer viewers the opportunity to apply the information. There's also a video segment aimed at the adults teaching the unit. While the featured students are not very diverse, they do add a kid-friendly element to a sometimes scary topic. Useful for counselors and others teaching children about safety issues.—Teresa Bateman, Brigadoon Elementary, Federal Way, WA