“Only For Me” Review

Only For Me Review

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What It’s About

I was recently sent Only For Me – written by Michelle Derrig – to review. It’s a beautifully illustrated children’s book that is aimed to teach children about their bodies and their own personal safety.

Only For Me manages to balance to arming children with valuable information to protect their bodies – or talk to adults if something happens to them – while also preserving their innocence.

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While adults reading know the purpose of the book it’s written in a way that it could be read to children as any other picture book.

It discusses that parts of their body are private, they can say no to any touch they don’t like (even if it’s a cuddle or a game), that nobody should show them private parts (including pictures or videos) and it doesn’t matter who the person is. Also, that it’s not a secret and they won’t be in trouble if they talk to someone about it.

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The book is a really great way to prompt specific and individual conversations with children.

Reading To My Children

I read it to my children separately at first, as I wanted to gauge their reactions to it and also have slightly different conversations around it with each of them.

With my four year old it was exactly like reading any other story book for her. She enjoyed the story and pictures. The main points I focused on with her were that her bottom is private. That she can say no to anyone if she doesn’t want them to touch her. And at the end the book children are prompted to list five adults they can trust to talk to if someone does something they don’t like.

When I read it to my seven year old I asked him what he thought of it. Also if he understood what it was about. He said he thought the book was about children and “bad guys”.

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So the conversation we had was a little bit more specific and focused on there are people who aren’t very nice to children. Emphasising why it’s really important if something does happens that he needs to tell someone he can trust about it. At the end of the book he could easily think of five adults he could talk to.He also thought about it in different scenarios; at school he said he can talk to a teacher, at a friend’s house he can talk to their Mum and so on.

All that being said, I’m happy to read this book to them as part of their regular storybook collection. The book itself is light and gentle.

And if the unthinkable happens I hope that they feel empowered to talk to me – or someone else – about it, knowing that they have the right to say no, that nobody is allowed to touch them in a way that makes them feel uncomfortable, and they won’t be in trouble for telling someone what happened.

Get A Copy

I would recommend anyone with children, or working with children, to have a copy of this book. Sadly I don’t think it can entirely protect them and prevent abuse, but I think it would help children feel confident telling an adult if something does happen to them.

 

For more information and to purchase a copy go to www.OnlyForMe.com.au

Rachel Stewart

Rachel is the founder of Parenting Central. She is raising two children, boy and girl, with her partner. Rachel is obsessed prams, car seats, carriers and all things baby. She has worked in the baby industry for several years, for both suppliers and also in a retail setting and has developed a passion for connecting parents with the right products to make their lives easier. When Rachel isn't playing with prams she's enjoys crocheting, drinking coffee (sometimes wine) and spending a little too much time on Facebook.

6 Comments

  1. My kids are the same age as yours, and it’s interesting how differently the conversation needs to be skewed. My oldest is a total optimist as well – sees silver linings everywhere and trusts everyone. Those conversations have been hard, and I’m not sure that they’ve sunk in.

  2. We are at that point where these conversations need to be had, and we recently had a discussion about having a secret. We knew we needed to build on this in regards to having secrets from mum and dad because of things like this. I agree it won’t prevent it happening but definitely perhaps a great book to encourage the trust and ability to let us as parents know something is wrong.

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