Shownotes Transcript
Tamsin Grimmer and Angelica Celinska explore physical touch as a way in which early childhood educators can demonstrate their love to children in their care. As one of the love languages, physical touch can be demonstrated in many different ways, and needs to be part of getting to know each unique child. This episode includes considerations around different types of appropriate and loving physical touch, children’s consent and agency, safeguarding, power dynamics, role modelling and consistency between home and the setting. Tamsin and Angelica tap into:
00:40 – Love languages 04:00 – Why is physical touch so important? 06:45 – Different ways of using touch 08:45 – Physical touch and safeguarding 09:45 – Auditing physical touch 11:15 – Consent and children’s rights 12:45 – Tuning into behaviour 13:20 – Agency and nappy changing 14:55 – Role modelling consent and choice 17:30 – Encouraging consent between children 18:10 – Consistency at home and in the setting 20:00 – Sharing as an abstract concept 21:40 – Equalling out power dynamics through loving pedagogy 23:00 – Role modelling the sharing of feelings 25:40 – Not all children respond well to physical touch
Read Tamsin Grimmer’s article: Tuning into children’s love languages on The Voice of Early Childhood website: www.thevoiceofearlychildhood.com