My Body Belongs to Me

By: Jill Starishevsky

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Synopsis: "Dear Reader, Among the first things we teach children is to name the various parts of their bodies. As they grow older, this conversation should go a step further - some parts of their bodies are private and belong just to them. Just as we teach youngsters what to do in case of fire, we must teach them what to do if someone touches them inappropriately. The overriding message in My Body Belongs to Me is that if someone touches you, tell. Sadly, the overwhelming majority of sexually abused children don't immediately disclose the abuse. As a result, the abuse often escalates. There are many reasons for a child's silence: Perhaps the abuser says it's a secret. Maybe the child believes that he or she is at fault. Without being taught that his or her body has boundaries, a child may be too young to understand that the abuse is wrong. Parents often don't know when or how to approach this topic with their children. Written for 3-to-10-year-olds, My Body Belongs to Me is a tool that aims to facilitate this difficult discussion in a straightforward yet sensitive manner."