Suggested Grade/Age Range: Grades 1-3 (ages 6-9)

Activity Objective: The goal of this activity is to emphasize to children that all kinds of touch can be talked about and that we are the only ones who can decide how to be touched and how a touch makes us feel.

Touch Learning Goals
Big Messages to Kids

Link to Ontario Curriculum

Materials Required:

• Picture cards found here . There are 12 in total
• Chart paper and markers

Prep Time: 10 minutes

• Print out picture cards
• Have chart paper and markers available (or the board can be used instead)

Task Time: 35-40 minutes

• Introduce activity
• Engage in discussion for each picture card

Activity Description:

 Opening Discussion:

1.       Tell the class that they will be looking at some pictures whereby the characters are engaging in different kinds of touch. As a class, you will be discussing about how you think the characters feel about the touch and about how the children themselves feel about the touch

2.       Show children the first picture. For each picture, take the children through the following questions:

What do you think is happening in the picture?

How are the characters touching each other or being touched?

Does the character who is being touched look like they are enjoying the touch? Why or why not? How can you tell? How do you think they feel?

How do you feel about the touch shown in the picture? How come?

3.       Go over Step 2 for the rest of the pictures. If there is a time limit, choose a few of the pictures to discuss. Make sure they cover different kinds of touches and diverse responses to them

4.       Emphasize at the end that all touch can be talked about and only the individual themselves can decide how they want to be touched and how a touch makes them feel

Activity Extensions:

Show children the Youtube video clip on consent for kids and have a discussion around its content, especially about how only the individual themselves can decide how to be touched and how they feel about the touch. The clip can be found here. This wonderful video was made by illustrator Rachel Brian and focuses on personal boundaries.

Additional Comments:

Because there are 12 cards to show and discuss in total, the activity can be divided into mini sessions over a few days if that works better for the class schedule

Additional Resources:

You may also choose to review the Touch Literature Review before implementing this activity. It can be found here.