Teach Your Kids the Anatomically Correct Names for Body Parts
An anonymous mother wrote an article for Today entitled “ How to Imagine the Unimaginable. “This is the type of story that, as a parent, you cannot read, which means you must (although keep in mind that this is about sexual assault). She details how she discovered that the nanny was playing a game with her six-year-old son called privates. All this is terrible, that you think “ never, never, never my child ”, and nevertheless, as the author points out, every third girl and every sixth boy will by that time become a victim of child sexual abuse. they are eighteen.
In the end, the author gives parents a ton of great advice on how to protect their children. You should read all of this . One tip that struck me was a simple reminder to teach your kids the anatomically correct names for body parts. Vulva. Penis. Anus. Say them out loud. As told The Atlantic Laura Palumbo, prevention of an expert of the National Resource Center for sexual violence (NSVRC), the use of what linguists call a “standard” dialect for the parts of the body, rather than euphemisms and colloquialisms, “promotes a positive body image, self self and parent-child communication; discourages criminals; and in the event of abuse, it helps children and adults to navigate the process of information disclosure and forensic medical examination. ” And, as the anonymous author of Today adds, “For your child, learning these words is no different than learning that your elbow is the tip of your hand.”
Of course, it is natural to say these words to a child. Less than a decade ago, The Guardian published an article titled ” How to Find an Acceptable Word for Your Daughter’s Genitals ” – a crowdsourced story that suggested yoni, snook, ladybugs, pompom. , “” Doris “and” shiny beats “(really, wow). My mother always called my vagina my vagina, but I can’t remember my father ever saying that word. Dads also need to get used to feminine terms.
If you need advice, Robbie H. Harris ‘s book about girls, boys, babies, bodies, families, and friends, recommended by Today’s author and many other parents, is titled It’s Not a Stork! … It provides direct answers to common questions children have: where do children come from? Why are some body parts of girls and boys the same, and why are some parts different. ” Who Has What?: All About Girls’ Bodies?: All About Girls’ Bodies?: All About Girls’ Bodies” is also great.
Using cute nicknames might suggest that children find their genitals embarrassing. They are not. Your son has a penis, not a pee. Your daughter has a vulva, not shiny pieces.