Head and shoulders, knees and vagina
May 27, 2008 by Megan · 7 Comments
Many parents are too embarrassed to use correct names for private parts. Are you one of those who cannot say vagina, penis, anus or breasts? Protect Kids from Sexual Predators. Use Correct Names for Private Parts.
At Party BITSS we sing a song: Head and shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes. But wait…what is missing? What falls in between our shoulders and knees? Just all of our private parts that nobody likes to talk about because it is considered rude and impolite. At Party BITSS we add vagina and penis to the song and we add a vagina or penis to the body outlines we do. We are not rude or impolite. We are protective and make child protection serious business.
If children cannot talk openly about their private parts in a safe and supportive environment there is a reduced risk that they will be able to tell you about their private parts under a time of stress and confusion. If someone touches your child you need to know. It is your job to stop it from happening again, to protect your child and to help your child understand that what happened was not their fault. For your child to tell you they need to know that they are allowed to discuss those parts of the body in a serious way without getting growled at by a cranky parent or carer.
Go on: have a vagina or penis conversation today. I know its scary and a bit awkward at first but if you don’t do it, you may be leaving your kids open to enforced secrecy. Tomorrow I’m going to tell you a super easy and non threatening way to begin having that conversation.
Even Google knows how to use correct terminology: Google Mail – Because Google’s got a Doodle, not a Penis.
About Megan
Hi Megan
How true – it can be difficult for parents, their kids and workers to say ALL of the body parts correctly. I guess as the “grown ups” we have to step up, and loose the words we were taught as kids (willy, fanny etc) so that we have a better chance of teaching our kids about protective behaviours and hopefully prevent child sexual assault!
Birdwing
I have taught my children the correct names to use, penis , vagina etc, and like all kids they have their moments of giggles but they also know that they are not dirty words to use. They have been taught appropriate and inappropriate touching and what the difference is.
Hi Keran and Nunyaa
it is heartening that at least three of us can use the correct terminology.
Know what you mean about the giggles Nunyaa…it happens in our house too.
Maybe it’s a northern thing, given that we are all northern gals.
It’s incredible how many adults don’t seem able to use the correct terms either! It can actually lead to all sorts of misunderstandings too.
But on a lighter note, it does remind me of a post from NHS Blog Doctor
Great post, as always Megan, and another example of how silence and ignorance can be very dangerous.
On the misunderstandings – I knew a child who was taught that a penis was a “whistle”. Imagine his horror when the soccer ref. said the game would start when he blew the whistle.
he he he he you said vagina. glad I could help Mum.
A – it is sad that because some adults can’t call a vagina a vagina or a penis a penis that our kids can’t. Good parenting is about clear communication. If we don’t call an arm a leg, who do we call a penis a whistle. Thanks for you comment and it is lovely to see you here at Imaginif
Alison: I have heard so many stories from adults who had dreadful moments as kids when the trick words they had been taught for their private parts were then used in the correct contexts. As soon as parents realise the dissonance that is caused in kids minds over thee issues then the quicker we can start naming things for what they are.
Rhys: hello son. Nice to see you here and thank you so much for your brilliant idea of using rocks as a metaphor for private parts. Sheer brilliance (wonder who you get that from
)