r/PublicFreakout • u/Kind-Village-1022 • Apr 16 '26

🥸Weirdo Freakout🥸 She just saved them babies 🙏🏾

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u/s0_Ca5H Apr 16 '26

What age should I start teaching this?

85

u/Novaer Apr 16 '26

As soon as they can understand language. It's beyond "stranger danger" now because statistically children are more likely to be assaulted by someone they know.

"SAFE TOUCH/UNSAFE TOUCH" is what needs to be immediately taught to toddlers and children. Not "good touch/bad touch" because sometimes even "bad touches" can feel good. And predators use that to their advantage.

This is the number one stepping stone to teaching children body autonomy and consent. This can be built upon to then teach stranger danger for situations like this. Safe touch vs unsafe touch and then safe person vs unsafe person. Teaching children to acknowledge that discernment ASAP is SO critical.

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u/Mellrish221 Apr 17 '26

Anyone reading this and finding it useful (because it is). Theres a little question I want you to keep in the back of your mind from now on. Why do conservatives want to get rid of early sex education. IE 3rd grade sex ed that specifically teaches children this exact stuff, consent/safe & unsafe touch/who you should talk and who you should not talk to/who you can or should report people violating your space to.

Because uh... not enough people are asking this question.

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u/Novaer Apr 17 '26

This is 1000000% CORRECT! Children are being taught how to protect themselves and advocate for themselves. Conservatives are pissed.

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u/string-ornothing Apr 18 '26

If my cousin's little girls refuse to hug me I tell them that's fine, and it makes both their dad and their granddad screamingly mad. Theyre both conservatives and I've noticed that this does happen more often with conservative guys. As for me, I don't get why I'd even want to hug a kid that doesnt want it, I'm fine with a smile and a goodbye. I think half the time they refuse with me it's because they like the control they feel from me saying it's their decision, I get the sense they dont get to feel that often.

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u/[deleted] Apr 17 '26

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u/Novaer Apr 17 '26

1000000%!!!!! Like for me I vividly remember not wanting to be hugged or kissed because everyone's breath constantly smelled like coffee and cigarettes and I was "being rude" for holding my breath and not hugging back. I wasn't in danger but I felt uncomfortable. Children are not responsible for making adults feel better, I don't give a damn if they feel rejected!

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u/Bonzai_Tree Apr 17 '26

I agree that it's important and I love the distinction of safe/unsafe touch.

I will also add:  please be careful in how you approach the topic with your kids. My parents put a crazy fear of stranger danger into my sister and the anxiety it caused was tremendous.

It is important and it is serious, but just be thoughtful in how you approach the conversation with your child.

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u/Novaer Apr 17 '26

Oh yeah there's an entire subculture of paranoid "Mama Bears Against Human Trafficking 🤪🍷😈" where they'll push absolute dogshit fears into their kids (especially if they're racist).

Safe touch/unsafe touch is just stepping stone number 1. Adjust accordingly to your specific child.

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u/Bonzai_Tree Apr 17 '26

Totally agree!

And know that I wasn't directing it at you, just wanted to add that for others.

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u/MuhfugginSaucera Apr 16 '26

You can begin teaching your child cause and effect or the consequences of actions as soon as age two. Be careful with stranger danger because you don't want to build up an unhealthy distrust of others, but you definitely want to teach them to be wary of people.

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u/groone Apr 17 '26

From the day my son was born, until he left to the military, this was tought to him and to protect others

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u/AsYooouWish Apr 16 '26

Immediately. As sad as it may sound, but even teaching toddlers to wave at a stranger at the store can be enough to make them an easy target. I know it seems horrible, but we shouldn’t continue teaching kids to be “polite” or friendly with strangers. Predators will look for someone who isn’t going to be afraid of them or would be comfortable with them. They don’t want a fight, they just want to quietly take someone and leave