Helping Kids Feel Safe and Confident: Expert Answers on Body Safety and Positivity

Q. Tell us a little bit about yourself and your background. How did you get interested in writing?

As a young girl, I was an avid reader and a poetry writer. When I was around 11 years old, I even made my bookshop. I set it up for the children in the neighborhood to visit and borrow books. I grew up to become a trained teacher and an educational publisher. So, it was a natural progression for me to start writing books for children. I started nearly 25 years ago and began writing under the name of Jay Dale (my maiden name). Now, I write books for children, featuring topics that I am passionate about, body safety, gender equality, and respectful relationships.

Q. Body safety is such an important subject in today's world. I am sure parents are finding your books on the subject very useful.

Body safety has, for too long, been a taboo subject, a topic that parents and educators want to avoid. As a mother of three girls and in my role as a teacher, I felt very strongly that children needed age-appropriate skills, in case they were ever subjected to abuse. Therefore, I decided to write such books and help parents and teachers use them to approach the subject with their children in a non-scary and age-appropriate manner. I am honored to say many parents and educators have thanked me for my books. The books have helped many children know that something is wrong, from that very first inappropriate touch. One of the most rewarding achievements of my life has been to gift my children's book, My Body! What I Say Goes! to World Vision India, who have printed it and provided thousands of copies of this book to children and educators all over India. Over 900 teachers are using this book in their classrooms.

Q. Do you think reading books with children can offer them the right tools and knowledge on body safety, gender equality, and body positivity?

Books (and the discussions that they bring) are ideal tools to talk to children about challenging topics. Children are visual learners, so the pictures will help them retain the message that the book is giving. They can revisit books time and again, so the messages are constantly being reinforced. Picture books also allow the parent and the child to have close time as they read together and discuss their feelings and emotions.

Q. How often should we read about these issues to children?

I would say weekly once for books related to social and emotional intelligence, which deal with issues related to empathy, kindness, resilience, feelings, etc. When it comes to body safety, I would suggest revisiting the books once a month, in the early years. It is best to mix silly and humorous books with the more serious ones.

Q. Should we follow up the reading sessions with conversations and activities? Can you give some examples?

Absolutely! Parents can discuss the pictures and text as they read, or they can do so after finishing the book. All my books have discussion questions at the end to guide parents on the things they can ask their child to stimulate conversations and discussions around the topic. Also, many of my books have questions for children, aimed to help them feel they are a part of the story, and they can offer their own opinions.