Life Skills Education Toolkit

LIFE SKILLS EDUCATION TOOLKIT FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN IN INDIA• 19

Directions:

ACTIVITY ONE

Bad touch!

1. Both younger and older children can do this activity:
   Introduce the puppets: Who they are, their names, what they do, and where they are from. Build
   up a scene or a situation that children can understand and visualize. Using the puppets,
   present a situation where an adult gives some food to the child and becomes a friend. The
   adult tells the child that s/he can come to him whenever s/he needs to and allows him/her to
   stay with him. Use the puppets or explain that the adult sexually abuses the child.


2. Ask the children if they have heard or seen such events occurring. Do not probe.


3. Make groups of four or five children and give the children body maps (a child-size outline of a
   body, front and back) and a colored pen. Ask the children to mark with an X or an O. If there are
   some places on the body that children particularly hate to be touched, they can make a big X or
   many X’s in that place.
   
   
   • Parts of the body where they do not like to be touched.
   
   
   • Parts of the body where they have been touched, which have made them uncomfortable.
     Explain that these are both “bad touches.” Do not probe as it may embarrass some children.
     The facilitator should note the behavior of the children during the session that may require
     individual counseling later.
   
   
   
   


4. Children can share their body maps with the other groups.


5. Use the picture cards to discuss:
   
   
   • Where “bad touch” can happen. The places that may be risky include the market,
     brothel, railway platform or other public places; and
   
   
   • Who can do it?
   
   
   
   


6. If children are comfortable, ask them to enact a role play where “bad touch” takes place. Make
   sure that boys also take part and role plays can show how they too are at risk.
   Encourage the children to express what they feel.
   Use the advocate puppet to say that any form of sexual abuse is unacceptable in society and
   anywhere in the world. State any laws or examples of how children have been helped in such
   situations.


7. Brainstorm with the children about what they could do if they are caught in such a situation.
   Suggest some simple ideas if the children have not already mentioned them, such as talking to
   a trusted adult or running away. Further sessions can be planned based on the children’s
   answers.