Appropriate physical contact with children may include:
- Hugs
- Pats on the shoulder or back
- Handshakes
- “High fives” and hand slapping
- Touching hands, faces, shoulders and arms
- Arms around shoulders
- Holding hands during prayer or when a child is upset
- Holding hands while walking with small children
- Sitting close to small children
- Kneeling or bending down for hugs with a small child
- Verbal praise
- Holding or picking up children three years of age or younger
Inappropriate physical contact with children may include but not limited to:
- Any form of unwanted touch
- Full frontal hugs or “bear hugs”
- Touching bottoms, chests, or genital areas
- Lying down or sleeping beside a child
- Massages, whether by a volunteer to children or by children to a volunteer
- Patting children on the thigh, knee, or leg
- Tickling, wrestling, or “roughhousing”
- Touching or hugging from behind
- Games involving inappropriate touch
- Kisses on the mouth
- Touching when in isolated areas such as bedrooms and staff-only areas
- Making the child sit on the lap