Should children's books on personal body safety be allowed in classrooms on bookshelves
1. Reminiscing back to your 4 or 5-year-old days in school story time was more than likely one of
your favorite times of the day. Your Teacher made an announcement for students to come to
the carpet. You go there anxiously awaiting to see what would be the story of the day. Your
Teacher tenderly reminds you as well as others to sit Criss Cross applesauce as the story
begins.
You are instantly drawn in by listening to the words of the story as your Teacher reads with
animation. Your fidgeting with your shoelaces as you continue to focus on the story. The
windows are open and you can feel the spring breeze on your tender skin as it occasionally
enters the classroom. You know it’s springtime because the aroma of fresh tulips and daffodils
begin to tickle your nostrils. Your eyes are fixated on the beautiful illustrations in the book but
your eyes shift around the brightly colored classroom and you notice the bookshelf.
2. They are filled with your favorite childhood classics with titles such as the The Very Hungry
Caterpillar, Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?, The Cat in the Hat, Corduroy, Curious
George, Green Eggs and Ham, Good night Moon and Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No
Good, Very Bad Day just to name a few. But your eyes than shift to an empty spot on the
bookshelf where a book should be but isn’t, you can’t help but notice a void. Could and should
that empty spot potentially be filled with a book on Personal Body Safety? The truth is it should.
Children’s books on Personal Body Safety should be allowed in classrooms on bookshelves,
after all the topic is just as important to their developmental process as other children’s books.
According to statistics 1 out of 4 girls and 1 out of 6 boys will be sexually assaulted before their
18th Birthday. If children are PREYED upon at an early age schools should PREPARE them at
an early age. What better way to teach children on a not so popular taboo topic than through an
age appropriate children’s book.
No More Bad Secrets is a children’s
book on Personal Body Safety. It is
used as a tool to open up the
discussion on a topic that is normally
swept underneath the classroom
rug. This nonfiction book based on
the Author’s personal story serves
as a guide to aid in that discussion
making it easier. With kid friendly
language and illustrations it
engages, entertains as well as
empowers children.
3. Using a simple direct and age appropriate approach it teaches children a variety of topics such
as:
● The difference between good and bad secrets
● Who to turn to for help if they are keeping a bad secret
● The difference between an appropriate and inappropriate touch
Designed for ages 4 and up you can rest assured that concerned Parents, Caretakers and
Educators can approach this topic with ease. Children would be able to receive guidance that
they can understand, practice and put to use.
Children learning about Personal Body Safety is just as important as learning ABC’s and 123’s.
The bookshelves in classrooms should not be void of books like Sara Sue learns to Yell and
Tell, Do You Have a Secret? I Said NO! My Body is Private, My Body is Special and Belongs to
Me and of course No More Bad Secrets. Why keep books like these off the shelf when they can
potentially save a child’s life both figuratively and literally?
Feel free to share and express your
thoughts on this topic!