Smile Foundation, an NGO organised a workshop that works in child development
Picture for representational purpose
Chennai: Eighty five per cent of child abuse of both genders happen within family circles and children are vulnerable to abuse since birth, said Chitra Ananthan, child counsellor, at a workshop for teachers on Wednesday to help them protect children from sexual predators. Around 35 teachers from 20 schools took part in workshop conducted by Smile Foundation, an NGO that works in child development here.
“An adult imposing authority on a child who cannot defend himself is child abuse,” she said, explaining abuse and sexual exploitation of children. Classifying the abuse into verbal, physical, sexual, emotional and neglect, Chitra threw light on the ways a child can be exploited and why making them aware of their private parts as early as kindergarten was important.
There was a general perception in society that female children alone needed to be protected from sexual predators. One out of seven boys was abused in their childhood, including those from rich families, according to counsellor Radhika Chhabria. Speaking on building trust among children, she said a child needed four to five hugs a day to feel safe and loved and that handling children the right way and building a relationship on mutual trust was important to help them build their self-esteem, say counsellors.
“The first step to bring awareness among children is to teach them their body parts and explaining about their private parts in a simple way, such as comparing what parts they hid in a swimming class,” said child counsellor Purnima.
( Source : dc correspondent )
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