My body belongs to me

Page 1 — My bubble deserves respect

1. 1. Saying hello my way

   • The grandmother: “Would you like a hug?”
   • The child: “Today, I’d rather wave hello!”
   • The grandmother: “Okay!”

2. 2. My bubble can change

   • Clara: “Your bubble is the space you need to feel good. It can change from one moment to another.”

3. 3. Even with someone I love

   • The child: “What if it’s someone in my family?”
   • Clara: “You can say no to a kiss or a hug, even with someone you love.”

4. 4. Saying no doesn’t mean not loving

   • The mother: “You don’t need a hug to show you love someone.”
   • The child: “I can say hello another way!”

“My body deserves respect, every day.”

Read together: how do you like to say hello?

Page 2 — I ask and I listen to the answer

1. 1. I ask first

   • The child: “Do you want a hug?”
   • A friend: “Not right now.”
   • The child: “Okay!”

2. 2. Silence is not a yes

   • Clara: “If the other person doesn’t answer or seems unsure, we stop and give them space.”

3. 3. We can change our mind

   • The child: “Stop, I don’t want any more tickles!”
   • The mother: “I’m stopping.”

4. 4. No need to insist

   • Clara: “When someone says no, we respect their answer, without insisting.”
   • The child: “Shall we play ball instead?”

“I respect my bubble and other people’s bubbles.”

Read together: how do you know a friend wants to play?

Page 3 — My privacy matters too

1. 1. Some parts are private

   • Clara: “Some parts of your body are private. You can talk about them and ask questions without feeling ashamed.”
   • The mother: “Your whole body deserves respect.”

2. 2. I can ask for privacy

   • The child: “I’m going to get changed. Can you wait?”
   • The mother: “Yes. I knock before coming in.”

3. 3. When I need care

   • Clara: “To wash you or take care of you, some touches may be needed. The adult explains why and how.”
   • The child: “Can I ask my questions?”

4. 4. I can talk about what bothers me

   • Clara: “Yes. You can say if you’re worried and ask for support. Care should never become a secret to keep.”

“My privacy is respected, even when someone is helping me.”

Read together: how can you ask for a moment of privacy?

Page 4 — Secrets I can talk about

1. 1. A surprise that gets revealed

   • The child: “We’re making a present for Grandma!”
   • The mother: “It’s a surprise for her birthday. You can talk about it with a trusted adult.”

2. 2. A secret shouldn’t trap me

   • Clara: “A secret that scares you, makes you sad or confuses you can be told. Even if you promised to keep it.”

3. 3. Secrets about my body

   • Clara: “If someone asks you to keep a touch on your body a secret, you can tell an adult who will help you.”

4. 4. No gift can make me keep quiet

   • Speech bubble: “Even if someone gave me a present?”
   • Clara: “Yes. A gift never means you have to keep that secret.”

“I have the right to speak, even if I was told to keep quiet.”

Read together: what is the difference between a surprise and a secret?

Page 5 — If something isn’t right

1. 1. I can ask for it to stop

   • The child: “No. Stop. I don’t want to.”
   • Clara: “You can say it and move away if you can.”

2. 2. Even with someone I know

   • Clara: “Boundaries also apply to people you know, to adults and to other young people.”

3. 3. Sometimes, we don’t know what to do

   • The child: “What if I can’t manage to say no?”
   • The mother: “You might freeze or not know what to do. That doesn’t make you responsible.”

4. 4. It’s never my fault

   • Clara: “If someone does something inappropriate to you, it is never your fault, even if you didn’t say anything or if you said yes.”

“It’s up to adults to protect children.”

Read together: what can you say if you don’t like a touch?

Page 6 — Many adults can help me

1. 1. Many adults can help me

   • The mother: “Let’s choose adults who listen to you, respect your limits and can help you. At home and elsewhere.”

2. 2. I can start with my own words

   • The child: “I need to talk to you. Something is bothering me…”
   • An adult at school: “I’m listening.”

3. 3. If the first person doesn’t help me

   • The child: “What if no one listens to me?”
   • Clara: “You can talk to another adult, until someone helps you.”

4. 4. Even if it happened a long time ago

   • The mother: “You can talk to us now, even if it happened a long time ago.”
   • Clara: “It’s never too late to get help.”

“I deserve to be listened to and protected.”

Read together: which adults can help you?

Page 7 — Let’s talk about it together

1. 1. My favourite hello

   • Clara: “How would you like to say hello today: a wave, a smile or a hug if you both feel like it?”

2. 2. If the other person says stop

   • Clara: “Your friend says stop during a game. What can you do?”
   • The child: “I stop and give them space.”

3. 3. My people to ask for help

   • The mother: “Who can you go to at home? And at school or in your activities?”
   • Clara: “We can name several people.”

4. 4. I can talk without understanding everything

   • The child: “Even if I don’t know whether it’s serious?”
   • Clara: “Yes. You can talk about what bothers you or what you don’t understand.”

“We can come back to this conversation little by little.”

Read together: who are your people to ask for help?

Page 8 — Tips for parents

1. 1. Make respect part of everyday life

   • Text box: “Respect refusals of kisses and hugs. Explain necessary care and protect privacy. Come back to these conversations regularly.”

2. 2. Welcoming a disclosure

   • The mother: “Thank you for telling me. I believe you. It’s not your fault.”
   • Text box: “Let the child speak in their own words, without rushing them or suggesting answers.”

3. 3. Listen without investigating

   • Text box: “Don’t promise to keep the secret. Avoid repeated questions. Afterwards, write down the child’s words as accurately as possible.”

4. 4. Act to protect

   • Text box: “If you have doubts or if a child discloses abuse, contact the DPJ (youth protection) in your region. You don’t need proof. Immediate danger: 911.”

“Protecting children is an adult responsibility.”

Read together: how can we come back to this conversation?

Note: educational comic; fictional characters; does not replace a consultation. Immediate danger: 911. To report a situation: the DPJ (youth protection) in your region, 24 hours a day (Montérégie: 1 800 361-5310).