NCJ Number
97189
Date Published
1983
Length
0 pages
Annotation
This film uses discussions with elementary children, dramatizations, and teacher summary statements to teach elementary-age children about the nature of child sexual abuse, the difference between 'good' and 'bad' touching received from others, the emotional effects of 'bad' touching, and what to do when children feel they have been sexually exploited or abused.
Abstract
The film opens with an assessment of what elementary-age children may already know about sexual abuse, as children in the film answer questions dealing with the nature of sexual abuse, the feelings engendered in the victim, and how to protect oneself from it. Child sexual abuse is defined by the teacher as 'forced or tricked touch;' ways to accomplish such abuse are compared to bullying, name-calling, and lying. The teacher further distinguishes between some forms of sexual abuse and physical abuse in noting that 'bad' touch by another may not be physically painful, but it is embarrassing and uncomfortable. A drama group illustrates differences between 'good' touch and 'bad' touch in dramatizations of different types and forms of kissing, hugging, tickling, greeting, and playful wrestling. The children are urged by the teacher to rely upon their own feelings in determining whether a particular touching situation is 'good' or 'bad.' Children are encouraged to discuss with their parents the rightness and wrongness of particular touching situations. Various forms of sexual abuse are dramatized and interpreted. They include a babysitter encouraging young children to play in their front yard naked, a man exposing himself to a young boy in a park, and relatives taking liberties in showing physical affection to children. Each dramatization is discussed with the children in the film, including ways the child might deal with the situation. In every case, children are urged to tell an adult about what happened and about their feelings.