In some instances, you will decide that it is not in the best interest of a student to allow them to decline your touch. It is important to notify families when unwanted but necessary touch occurs in the school setting. Reflect on the scenarios from the Supporting Students through Unwanted but Necessary Touch activity. Brainstorm what you would say to families to communicate that an unwanted but necessary touch has occurred.

1. Quentin, a kindergarten student, stuck a bead in his ear during art class. He told the teacher what happened, and says that it is hurting. Quentin is refusing to let anyone look at it or touch him. How would you communicate this situation to Quentin's family?   

    

   Hello Mr. Jones, this is Ms. Thompson, Quentin’s art teacher. Quentin is doing great in art class and worked really hard today on a beading project we’ve been working on. I wanted to reach out and let you know that during art class today, Quentin stuck a bead in in ear and had to be seen by the school nurse. I am so proud that he felt safe telling me what happened so that I could get him the help that was needed. Quentin was upset and refused to let anyone look at his ear or touch him at first. The school nurse and I explained that we wanted him to feel better and needed to look in his ear to see if the nurse was able to get the bead out with one of her tools. Thankfully, the nurse was able to get the bead out safely. I wanted to let you know that while Quentin was resistant to letting anyone look at his ear or touch him, we felt that it was necessary to for his health and safety. If you have any questions or concerns about the incident, please let me or the school nurse know.

2. Amir, a third-grade student with developmental delays, very recently learned to toilet train. When a teacher joins Amir in playing trains, the teacher notices an odor indicating that Amir did not do an adequate job with his hygiene after having a bowel movement. Reflect on how you would communicate this situation to Amir's famliy.

    

   Dear Ms. Jones,

   I hope you are having a wonderful day. Amir is having a great day and is very interested in playing with the trains in the classroom. I know that you have been working on toilet training at home and Amir has been successful with toilet training at school as well. I am so proud of how hard he works to keep himself clean and dry during the day. Today, I noticed that Amir needed a little bit of help cleaning his bottom after having a bowel movement. I quietly asked him to go to the bathroom so that I could help him get clean, but he became upset and resisted my help. Once I explained that I needed to make sure his bottom was clean so that it didn’t become sore and that he could play with the trains again as soon as he was clean, he calmed down and let me help him. I just wanted to let you know that while he was upset and didn’t want my help, I felt it was important to make sure that his bottom was clean so that it didn’t become sore. If you would like to share any tips that you use at home to help Amir with the toilet learning process, I would love to hear more about what is successful at home. Please reach out if you have any questions or want to discuss this more.

3. Joy is a sixth-grade student with seborrheic dermatitis, a skin condition, on her scalp. This causes Joy to have itchy, flaking skin that distracts her from school. She will sometimes scratch so much that it leaves flaked skin all around her desk. Joy is due to have an application of a prescription ointment after lunch, but she refuses and argues about it with the school nurse. Would you communicate this situtation to Joy's family? What would you say?

    

   Hello Ms. Miller, this is Mr. Boyle the school nurse. Joy is doing great and just received her prescription ointment. I wanted to let you know that Joy was a little upset about having to get her ointment today. At first Joy refused to allow me to apply the ointment to her scalp, so we talked about why she needs the medicine and that if we use it like the doctor asked her scalp will heal and she will feel much better. I also allowed her to look in the mirror and watch me apply the ointment to her scalp. Watching the process seemed to make her feel more comfortable with it. I just wanted to let you know that while she refused to let me apply the ointment at first, we were able to talk through the process and she ultimately allowed me to touch her scalp. I will continue to help her understand why she needs to use the medicine daily and if you have any other suggestions that would make Joy more comfortable with this process, I would be happy to try them out.