Every Body Talk

Erin Levitas Foundation

Please visit the Erin Levitas Foundation page for updates about Every Body Talk 📙plus activities and news surrounding the book.

All proceeds from the book support the Erin Levitas Foundation and help support sexual assault prevention through early education.

Around the holidays when often additional people are around it’s a great time to remind children and give them the language/ hand motions to communicate when they need or want space or don’t like something. Remind them they can always ask for space or say/show when they don’t like something. Help them be successful in different situations. Whether it’s a hug they don’t want, physical closeness or a game they don’t want to play - help them feel prepared and talk about other ways they can greet someone. Maybe a head bump, 👊 fist bump or a wave. Support their feelings, even when they want space from a family member. If your little one is a hugger, remind them other people sometimes want space and that’s okay, it’s important to know other people may want more space than they want.
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Encouraging and supporting their own boundaries NOW can encourage important skills for today and tomorrow. Help them know they can come to you if they don’t like something - remind them they can tell you anything. It’s a lifelong conversation.

Healthy modeling in the home…like leading by example is a really important way kids learn skills and pick up attitudes that shape behaviors they take with them through life. Set boundaries with kids that you want them to set as they grow up. If you need a break and some space say in a calm, kind way, “I need a moment to myself right now. And I could use a little space, I’m feeling overwhelmed.” To help, you can suggest, “how about you go play or read over there and I’ll be over in 5 minutes.” Then they see the end in sight and you’ve taught them to respect another’s space. They know they can set that boundary and ask for space too. And there’s no blame or shame either, you made it about space you need.

We teach our little ones how to care for their bodies as they get older- wash your face, brush your teeth, clean your body. But do they know they can have boundaries - their own space - and they can speak up if they or any part of their body doesn’t feel safe or comfortable? It’s all part of body safety…including that no matter what, they can tell a trusted adult anything. You can teach them all of this! Go you!

Diversity in children’s books is improving, but it’s not where it needs to be. That’s why we worked with a diversity and inclusion, and racial equity consultant to ensure children saw themselves within our pages and knew this topic was for them too!

Marissa Neuman Jachman was able to share the exciting news about Every Body Talk with Patrice Sanders - WBFF Fox45 Baltimore today. It's never too early to start teaching children protective factors, understand boundaries, and to start healthy lines of communication with them. You can pre-order your book at EveryBodyTalkBook.org!

https://foxbaltimore.com/morning/every-body-talk-book-helps-kids-understand-boundaries

Every Body Talk book helps kids understand boundaries The Erin Levitas Foundation has created a book to help children to better understand their bodies, learn boundaries and how to open up to a trusted adult concerning sensitive issues. Marissa Jachman, co-author of Every Body Talk and executive director of the Erin Levitas Foundation, joins the mornin...

Having all types of conversations with your little ones about different situations they may encounter can be helpful and allows you to talk through them together. But we can’t prepare them for everything, so teaching them skills to take with them into the world is so important. Like reminding them, no matter what, they can always tell an adult they trust if they feel unsafe, scared or unsure about anything.