For parents first. Please watch these two stories with your child, not as solo screen time. They are calm and never frightening: there are no villains and nothing bad is shown. Each ends with a warm grown-up and the safe action. At the bottom of this page is a note on what to do if your child ever tells you something worrying, with the Childline 1098 and 112 numbers.
Body safety for kids is about giving children simple words and a clear plan, in the same calm way we teach them to hold hands on the road. Golu reads two short stories aloud in Hindi and English. In "My Body Belongs to Me", Anu learns she can say no to a hug, that some parts of her body are private, and that she can always tell Maa. In "Surprises and Secrets", Kabir learns that surprises are happy, that secrets which make you worried should always be told, and to keep telling until a grown-up listens.
What the two stories teach
| Idea | How the story says it | Hindi |
|---|---|---|
| My body belongs to me | "Your body belongs to you, from your head to your toes." | तुम्हारा शरीर तुम्हारा है, सिर से पैर तक। |
| I can say no to a hug | Anu says "No thank you. High five?" to an aunty at a party. The aunty smiles. | नहीं, धन्यवाद। हाई फ़ाइव? |
| Private parts | "The parts covered by your underwear." Nobody should touch them or ask to see them, except to keep you clean or healthy, with Maa or Papa there. | वे हिस्से जो तुम्हारे अंडरवियर से ढके रहते हैं। |
| No, go, tell | "If any touch feels wrong, scary or confusing, say no, move away, and tell a grown-up you trust." | ना कहो, दूर हट जाओ, और किसी भरोसेमंद बड़े को बताओ। |
| Surprises vs secrets | A surprise cake for Dadi is happy, and soon everyone knows. A secret that makes you worried is always okay to tell. | जिस राज़ से चिंता हो, उसे बताना हमेशा ठीक है। |
| Keep telling | Maa is busy on the phone, so Kabir tells Papa. "Keep telling until someone listens." | तब तक बताते रहो, जब तक कोई सुन न ले। |
| My trusted grown-ups | Five fingers, five trusted grown-ups: Maa, Papa, Dadi, Nani and the teacher. | पाँच उँगलियाँ, पाँच भरोसेमंद बड़े। |
The worry in Kabir's story is deliberately small and everyday: a bigger child takes his ball and tells him to keep it secret. The point is the pattern: a secret that feels heavy, telling a grown-up, and the grown-up saying "Thank you for telling me. It is not your fault. I will help."
Why teach body safety at 4 to 6?
Between 4 and 6, children can understand simple body rules, name their trusted grown-ups and tell the difference between a happy surprise and a worrying secret. Child-protection programmes around the world, and POCSO awareness work in Indian schools, teach these ideas at this age for a practical reason: a child who has the words and knows it is safe to tell is much more likely to tell early. Teaching is protective, and it does not need to be scary.
Research also shows that most harm to children comes from people a child already knows, not strangers. That is why these stories do not use "stranger danger". They focus on the child's own body, their right to say no, and their trusted grown-ups.
How to teach body safety to preschoolers, step by step
- Use a calm, ordinary voice. Talk about body safety the way you talk about brushing teeth or crossing the road. Your calm tells your child this is a normal topic.
- Name body parts. Whether you use the correct names or your family's words is your choice. Many child-protection experts recommend correct names because they help a child explain clearly. The stories use "the parts covered by your underwear", which works in every family and language.
- Let your child say no to hugs and kisses. Even from relatives. Offer a wave, a high five or a namaste instead, just like Anu. This teaches, every day, that your child's body belongs to them.
- Explain surprises and secrets. A surprise is happy and everyone finds out soon, like a birthday present. A secret that makes you feel worried, or any secret about touching, should always be told.
- Make a trusted-grown-ups hand. Trace your child's hand and draw or write one trusted grown-up on each finger. Include at least one person outside the home, such as a teacher. That is the mission at the end of the second story.
- Practise "no, go, tell". Role-play in a light way: "If a touch feels not okay, what do you say?" "No!" "Then?" "Move away!" "Then?" "Tell Maa or Papa!"
- Repeat, lightly, often. A two-minute chat at bath time or bedtime every few weeks works better than one long talk.
At bath time is a natural moment: "You can wash your private parts yourself now. Only Maa or Papa help when you need it, and the doctor only when Maa or Papa is with you."
What to say, and what to avoid
- Do say: "You can always tell me anything. You will never be in trouble for telling me." "If I am busy, tell me again, or tell Papa."
- Do say: "It is never a child's fault."
- Avoid: frightening stories, news reports or images. Fear makes children freeze, not tell.
- Avoid: forcing hugs "to be polite". It teaches the opposite of the lesson.
- Avoid: "bad touch" language that makes the child feel they did something bad. "Not-okay touch" or "unsafe touch" puts the problem on the touch, not the child.
Adapting for different children
Children with speech delay, autism or intellectual disability need body safety teaching just as much, often more. Use picture cards, the same short phrases every time ("My body. My choice. No, go, tell."), and practise with role-play and toys. Make sure every child has a way to tell: pointing to pictures, a signal, or a trusted person who understands their communication. In bilingual homes, teach the key phrases in the language your child is most comfortable speaking when upset.
How to use this page
Sit with your child, hold the phone or tablet together, and choose a story. Golu reads each page, and words light up as he reads. At each choice, pause and ask your child what they think before tapping. If your child picks "Keep quiet about it", Golu gently explains that telling a trusted grown-up is always right. Stop whenever your child wants to talk. Tap 🔊 to hear a page again. The अ+A button sets Hindi or English first.
Picture questions after each story
My Body Belongs to Me
- Who wanted a hug at the party? (An aunty)
- Where was Anu? (At home and at a family party)
- What happened when Anu said "No thank you"? (She gave a high five instead, and the aunty smiled)
Surprises and Secrets
- Who was the surprise cake for? (Dadi)
- Where did the big kid take the ball? (In the park)
- What happened when Maa was busy? (Kabir told Papa, and Papa helped)
For parents: if your child tells you something worrying
Stay calm, listen and believe your child. Say: "Thank you for telling me. It's not your fault. I will help." Don't question them again and again, and don't confront the person in front of your child. In India, call Childline 1098 (free, 24 hours, the national child helpline, now linked with the 112 emergency response system), or 112 if a child is in immediate danger. Also talk to your child's doctor. Outside India, contact your local child helpline or emergency number.
For more safety topics such as roads, hot things and water, see safety rules for kids. For feelings words that help children describe worry, see emotions for kids. The family members page is a gentle way to talk about who your child's trusted grown-ups are.
