God Made All of Me: A Book to Help Children Protect Their Bodies (God Made Me)

God Made All of Me: A Book to Help Children Protect Their Bodies (God Made Me)

God Made All of Me by Justin and Lindsey Holcomb is an invaluable resource and beautifully illustrated story to help families talk about sensitive issues with two- to eight-year-old children. Because the private parts of our bodies are private, home is the ideal environment for a child to learn about his or her body and how it should be treated by others—without conveying a message of shame. Through carefully written language and relatable storytelling, God Made All of Me helps parents navigate discussion that can so easily be warped into confusion, embarrassment, and secrecy. Instead of instilling a message that their bodies are shameful—which can often prevent children from recognizing and reporting sexual abuse—Justin and Lindsey Holcomb equip parents to build a first line of defense against sexual abuse in the safety of their own homes. This helpful guide starts from the fundamental truth that God created everything and applies that truth—the doctrine of creation—to kids and their bodies. With the help of God Made All of Me, parents and caregivers can begin conversations with boys and girls about their bodies, helping kids understand the difference between the appropriate and inappropriate touch of others. This life-changing resource shows readers how to establish the foundation for a healthy bond with their children to meet increasing challenges of sexuality, which they will inevitably confront in childhood and adolescence. By teaching their children how to establish body and health boundaries, parents are imparting invaluable skills for their kids to express thoughts and feelings. God Made All of Me is the first children’s book written by Rid of My Disgrace authors, Justin and Lindsey Holcomb. Parents of young children themselves, the Holcombs are profoundly aware of the dangers kids face, and they regularly counsel victims of sexual abuse. Explore God Made All of Me and find encouragement, clear guidance, and the tools necessary to facilitate open conversations about how your children can protect their bodies, an important step in keeping them as safe as possible. “Talking with our children about their bodies, touches, and secrets is an important step in keeping them as safe as possible. God Made All of Me helps parents start this conversation in a way that is not frightening and that affirms the faith traditions of many families.” — Victor Vieth , Senior Director & Founder, Gundersen National Child Protection Training Center “God Made All of Me is a helpful tool for parents who want to talk with their children about the wonders of the human body in the context of safe and healthy relationships. With a positive tone and clear illustrations, God Made All of Me offers helpful words and actions for children to keep their bodies safe, and to see themselves as God’s glorious creations.” — Amy Julia Becker , author of Small Talk: Learning from My Children about What Matters Most “Children are bombarded by all kinds of sexual messages, and parents are in the most critical position to provide the first line of defense to protect and guide their children to develop a positive and clear voice about their body and sexuality. God Made All of Meshows you how to establish the foundation for a healthy bond with your children to meet the increasing challenges of sexuality that they will confront in childhood and adolescence. God Made All of Me establishes the dynamics for an ongoing, open exchange for discussing the body and healthy boundaries, imparting invaluable skills for your children to establish a spiritual compass, trust their feelings, and express their thoughts as they develop.” — John T. Chirban ,Professor of Psychology and Chairman of the Human Development Program, Hellenic College; clinical instructor in psychology at Harvard Medical School at The Cambridge Hospital; Senior Fellow at the Center for the Study of World Religions at Harvard University; and author of How to Talk with Your Kids about Sex “Protecting our children begins with conversations that help them understand how to protect themselves. Unfortunately, many parents simply aren’t equipped to have these often difficult and awkward conversations with their little ones. Tragically, sexual offenders realize this and often target children who have never learned how to protect their bodies. The simplicity of the text and the wonderful illustrations make God Made All of Me the perfect resource for teaching our children this absolutely necessary information. What I love most about this amazing little book is how beautifully it conveys God’s love for little ones by wanting them to be safe. As a former child abuse prosecutor, I have no doubt that God Made All of Me will be a major contribution to making our world a safer place for our precious children.” — Boz Tchividjian , Executive Director, GRACE; Professor of Law; and former prosecutor “Justin and Lindsey have written a book to help us protect our children from sexual abuse. In clear and si