The Importance of Good Touch and Bad Touch Education in Schools

It usually starts with something small. A child refusing to go to school, avoiding a specific person. Becoming quieter, jumpier, more withdrawn. As adults, we often dismiss these changes, thinking, “Maybe they’re just tired”, “Maybe it’s a phase.” But sometimes, it’s not.

Sometimes, it’s a child’s way of trying to say something they don’t yet have words for.

And this is exactly why talking to children about good touch and bad touch isn’t just important, it’s necessary.

Why can’t this conversation wait?

There’s this truth that many parents don’t realise until it’s too late, kids don’t always know how to explain what they’re feeling. Especially when what they’re feeling is fear.

We often assume children are too young to understand concepts like boundaries, safety, or personal space. But the truth is, they feel everything. They sense discomfort and notice when a touch feels “off.” What they don’t know is how to process it, and what they definitely don’t know is how to speak up about it. Unless someone names it for them, they’re left to guess, and when it comes to body safety, guessing is dangerous.

Teaching children the difference between a good touch and a bad touch gives them vocabulary, clarity, and most importantly, permission. Permission to say no, permission to speak up, and permission to protect themselves.

While we can’t always be around them, we can teach them how to protect themselves with knowledge.

Then what exactly is a good touch and bad touch?

Good touch makes a child feel safe, loved, and cared for. Think of a mother’s hug, a high-five from a teacher, or a pat on the back after a sports win.

Bad touch, on the other hand, is anything that makes a child feel confused, scared, uncomfortable, or ashamed, especially when told to keep it as a secret.

This concept might seem simple to adults, but for children, it needs to be broken down in age-appropriate ways, with clear examples, consistent reminders, and, most importantly, the space to ask questions without shame.

What happens when we don’t teach this early enough?

Unfortunately, many children don’t realise they’ve experienced abuse until years later, often because no one taught them what abuse is. By then, the emotional damage may already be deep.

Educating children about good touch/bad touch can help prevent…

1. Sexual abuse
2. Childhood trauma
3. Fear of saying no
4. Lack of communication

When children don’t know how to recognise inappropriate behaviour, they’re far more vulnerable. Abuse thrives in silence, but education breaks that silence. Teaching body autonomy is key to building their confidence and emotional independence.

So how exactly do we teach it?

It’s easy to say “teach your kids good touch, bad touch,” but where do you even begin? No one gives you a handbook on this stuff. But it doesn’t have to be complicated. What children need is a safe space, real words, and regular reminders. 

1. Use real names – Nicknames often confuse them. If they know the right words, it will give them the confidence to speak up. 
2. Talk about private parts – Tell them clearly, parts covered by underwear are private. No one should touch them without permission, not even someone they know.
3. Explain good and bad touch with examples – “When grandma hugs you and you feel happy, that’s good. But if someone makes you feel uncomfortable by the touch and then tells you not to tell anyone, it’s definitely a ‘bad touch’.
4. Make it okay to say No – It is okay to say NO, to adults, to the people they know, even to you, if they feel uncomfortable. 
5. Remind them often – This isn’t a one-time talk. Say it during bath time, when they come home from school, when they visit relatives. Normalise speaking of it in front of them.
   
   

And for schools?

Parents may initiate these conversations at home, but the real test is how schools carry them forward. After all, children spend a huge part of their day in school, which is why parents don’t just look for good academics anymore. When they search for the best school in Kandivali East or the top ICSE board school near me, safety is a big part of that decision. It’s not just about rankings or results, it’s about trust. That’s why schools today can’t afford to treat safety education as a one-time workshop, it has to be part of the education system.

At Thakur Shyamnarayan High School, the approach is ongoing, not one-and-done. We have observed things that help make a difference and apply them in our day-to-day school life.

1. Teachers are trained to notice these changes in student behavior ( quietness, fear, withdrawal ), and if they persist, then we gently check in.
2. Students are taught how to identify good and bad touch in age-appropriate workshops.
3. Parents are involved. During PTMs, discussions aren’t just about marks, they include emotional safety too.
4. Counselors are accessible to kids who know they can talk to someone. There is always someone who will listen to them without judgment.
   
   

The school believes that a child who feels safe learns better, speaks up more, and builds healthier relationships, now and in the future.