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Tropicalia Island


PRIVATE PARTS

Tropicalia

FUNDACIÓN RANA

The human body is part of nature: it is our home and what defines us to others. Getting to know it from all possible perspectives—biological, social, emotional, and more—is a challenge that accompanies people from birth to death. Talking about the body with children is essential to stimulate their understanding, foster ethics related to it, and also promote proper care and protection.

Naming intimate and private parts is part of this learning process. Although it may seem simple, for many families it causes embarrassment, unease, or anxiety. Culturally, we carry a historical, social, and cultural legacy that has made it difficult to talk about this topic in a natural and clear way. Changing this situation is a fundamental step in preventing sexual abuse from early childhood. Educating in this way does not mean rushing developmental stages, but rather offering the information and resources children need to grow up safe, healthy, protected, and aware.

The vulva and the penis are, above all, the most well-known intimate and private parts for children. From experience, many children do not know them by their real names, and here lies the challenge for families: internalizing and sharing common language. It is also important to introduce the idea that the mouth, buttocks, and breasts are also intimate and private parts, and that all of them together deserve respect—from ourselves and from others.

From this basic principle—identifying intimate parts and respecting them—we introduce the concepts of intimacy and bodily boundaries, so that children learn to recognize inappropriate contact, take action, and ask for help if necessary.

How can we achieve this?

  • By taking advantage of everyday moments (changing clothes, hygiene routines, medical visits…).
  • By using educational books and puzzles, playing, and above all, answering the questions children may ask, such as:
    • “Why does María have a hole and I don’t?”
    • “What does Carlos have between his legs?”
    • “How come you have big breasts and I have small ones?”

In  Tropicalia Island, we can identify different moments to use the reading experience to explore this topic more deeply—one of the fundamental pillars in preventing abuse. The beach, the heat, summer… are times when clothes are changed and the body is more visible. For example, in the swimsuit factory, Nil, Coco, and Sandi—three children of the same age—talk humorously about preferences and differences between their bodies, normalizing the conversation and breaking taboos.

During the reading, what questions can we ask ourselves?

  • And you, which swimwear would you choose: wetsuit, trunks with a fly, bikini, swimsuit, briefs…?
  • If you were in Tropicalia and one of the Banyadorus Petitus or Banyadorus Grandus asked you to take off your swimwear, what would you do? Could you say NO if it were an adult? Would you tell someone?
  • I call this part “cotorrita” (Pussy) (Muff) (Privates) (Bits) / “pito” (Willy) (Weeny) Cock) (Dick) … and you, what do you call it? Do you know its real name?
  • Would it be a fun game for the Banyadorus Petitus and Banyadorus Grandus to touch or kiss each other’s intimate parts?

As mentioned, there are many ways to continue working on this topic, but we would like to highlight in particular:

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