Little Hearts, Big Scars: Healing Trauma in Young Children
Handwashing is a daily routine for children as they wash their hands often. Children wash their hands before and after eating as well as when they come inside either after playing or going out to the shops or visiting friends and family. Often during handwashing, water play takes place. Water play can be a soothing and calming activity for children, helping to reduce tension and anxiety. Running hands through water is a gentle repetitive activity which helps children focus, relax and unwind, as well as offering an opportunity to concentrate. Lively water play gives a child to release tension and energy, as well as tiring them out. Children often interact socially with their friends and caregivers during water play and handwashing.
Children explore the world through their sense of touch, mostly using their hands. They are also touched by others. Children instinctively know which touches feel safe and warm, giving them a sense of security as well as when a touch feels unsafe and makes them feel uncomfortable. Children need to know that they are in charge of their own body and are allowed to tell people when a touch makes them feel uncomfortable. This may be as simple as “I find that hug too hard” or “I do not like it when you pinch me”.
Children also know when a touch is unwanted and need to be allowed to say they do not want to be touched in that way. To support children in expressing whether a touch is safe, unsafe, or unwanted it is important that they know the correct names for all their body parts, for example stomach for “tummy” as well as the correct names for their private parts.
Click on the Healthy Happy Hearts link for a fun relaxing handwashing activity https://soundcloud.com/healthyhappyhearts/program-3-activity-1-hand-washin
Gill Naeser has been in the education, training and development sector for more than 30 years. She has a Pre-primary Teachers Diploma and a Postgraduate Degree in Education and Psychology. Gill is an expert in the field of Early Childhood Development while also being involved in a number of ECD projects including programmes which are working with vulnerable children in Sub Saharan Africa. Gill works closely with NGO’s, The Department of Education, The Department of Social Development, donors and training providers. Gill does specialist training and helps to scope projects as well as conduct programme evaluations. She has presented a number of papers at conferences. In her spare time Gill is involved in the Scouting Association of South Africa and her local environmental group, G.E.E.S.E.
