Human sexuality is a tricky issue that should be explored with children at an early age. A child's grasp of the topic should begin with awareness and understanding of his or her own body.
Mela Peralta, an alumna of the UST College of Nursing, has published a book entitled "Reflections of Rae." This book follows Rae, a young girl, as she begins to learn about herself, the people around her, and the world around her through her own body.
Empowering children through talking about bodies and giving proper names for intimate body parts is the first step to avoiding child abuse, Peralta told UST The Nursing Journal.
"During the lockdown, I've read articles saying that children are more prone to abuse, and there are parents who are not open about talking about human sexuality. When we euphemize body parts, like when we call it something else, it creates a feeling of shame to the child and so mas nagiging vulnerable sila sa abuse," she said.
Peralta said her inspiration for writing the book was drawn from personal experiences of body shaming.
"I've gone through body shaming, and people are still uncomfortable with how comfortable I am with my body. The process I had to go through to achieve that--lalaki ‘yung mga bata na ganito? They should stop this kind of mentality," she stated.
Peralta emphasized the importance of promoting body privacy and sexuality in young children to promote body autonomy.
"My advice to parents who want to teach their kids is to be open and learn with their children. Make their children feel that they are a safe place to ask questions and to discuss these issues," she said.
Rae, the main character of the story, can teach young children how to express agreement or refusal when it comes to accepting and offering physical touch to others. Teachers and parents can also use this storybook to start dialogues with young children about safe and unsafe touching.
The story is conveyed straightforwardly, with colorful visuals and lively characters. This book will appeal to young readers, teenagers, and adults alike because of its unusual tale and educational content.
“Reflections of Rae” is now available on Amazon.com and will be up on stores by December 2021.
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