Harper Learns Body Boundaries: Teaching Kids Consent, Respecting Personal Space, Private Parts Safety, When To Speak Up And Say No, And Social Life Skills
What’s inside...
Harper Learns Body Boundaries is a children's book that follows a young girl named Harper as she learns about respecting personal space and her body through beautifully illustrated scenarios and rhyming text. The book teaches children the importance of body boundaries, consent, saying no to unwanted touch, and respecting personal space. It provides valuable social skills and private part safety lessons, enabling children to build healthy and safe relationships. It also emphasizes the statistical importance of educating children about body boundaries to prevent child sexual abuse, stating that 95% of sexual abuse is preventable through education.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
3-8
Length
34 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
Why do you think it's important for Harper to learn about body boundaries?
How can knowing about personal space help you feel safer and more comfortable?
What are some ways you can tell someone you need more space?
Can you think of a time when you spoke up for yourself? How did it feel?
Why is it important to respect other people's personal spaces?
Tip: Role play these questions
Use a calm and patient tone when discussing the topics in the book to create a safe space for your child to express their feelings and thoughts.
Relate the scenarios in the book to everyday situations in your child’s life to help them understand the practical application of these concepts.
Listen actively to your child's responses and provide affirmations that their feelings and thoughts about personal boundaries are valid and important.
Encourage your child to ask questions about anything they don't understand or are curious about to foster an open dialogue.
Reiterate the importance of speaking up and saying no, reinforcing that it is okay to express discomfort or refusal when they feel their boundaries are being crossed.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Understanding personal space
Explanation: Harper learns about the concept of personal space through various scenarios where she needs to maintain boundaries with peers.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this lesson by recognizing appropriate physical distances in different social situations such as in school lines or while playing with friends.
Example Lesson: Recognizing the importance of consent
Explanation: The story teaches children that they should ask for permission before touching or hugging someone and also respect when others say no to them.
Real-World Application: This fosters respect for others' boundaries and teaches children to communicate their comfort levels with touch.
Example Lesson: Speaking up for oneself
Explanation: Harper encounters situations where she must articulate clearly when she feels uncomfortable, demonstrating self-advocacy.
Real-World Application: Children can practice voicing their discomfort or refusal when something does not feel right, nurturing autonomy and confidence.
Example Lesson: Identifying safe adults
Explanation: The book includes moments where Harper identifies who the safe adults are that she can turn to when she needs help or feels unsafe.
Real-World Application: Kids learn how to recognize trustworthy adults like parents, teachers, or guardians who can provide help or guidance.