Imaginif...the spirit of Christmas lasted.

Today’s key word is VAGINA. Hehehehehehehe. Random, isn’t it. Words need context to mean something and to take the peculiarity out of them. Just as it is for us and our acceptance of words in context, so too it is for kids.

Words are a weapon. They can hurt or they can help. It is a helpful thing for our children to know and use correct names for their private body parts.

Research shows that children who can correctly name their body parts have a greater chance at personal safety. Sexual organ articulate children are not swayed by cute words and not ashamed to tell someone that so and so touched my vagina, penis, anus. The almost clinical aura around the words makes it easier to talk about.

Give your child a good shot at personal safety by helping them use the right words for their private parts. But, if you suddenly start calling their “twot” a vagina, it is going to seem all weird and out of place. Use the words in context and create some gradual learning around them.

Here’s a contextual game extract from Parent Sense, a protective play tutorial for parents who want to teach personal safety to their children:

Play a word a week: Correct names of body parts. Many parents are uncomfortable with using the correct name for body parts. To provide your child with the best protection, they need to know the correct or “language” name for their private areas and require instruction from you that nobody can touch them in those places unless Mum or Dad are washing them or unless they are sick and the doctor or nurse needs to look there. It can be hard to introduce the correct names if you have been using nicknames since the child was born. Overcome this by introducing a game of “A word a week”. By teaching a new word a week, say “partition”, or “adventurous” you are normalising the introduction of words of the week like vagina, penis, anus, and breasts.

You can get loads more play and activity ideas for teaching personal safety to your child from Parent Sense. It is only $10.50 and available immediately you pay. Protect your child, now.