Primary: Practical Life: Coughing and Sneezing

Primary Instructor

Lesson 43 is Coughing and Sneezing, and we teach this without shame. This lesson must be taught without shame. Bodies make sounds and produce fluids. That is not embarrassing. It is human. It is biological. It is inevitable. We teach children to manage these moments not because there is something wrong with their bodies, but because it is considerate to the people around them. This is the difference between shame and consideration. The indirect aim is respect for others and self-care. The child learns that their body is normal and acceptable, and that managing bodily functions is a form of respect for community, not a form of shame. Body shame is deeply inequitable. It falls disproportionately on girls, on children of color, on children from non-dominant cultures, and on children with disabilities. Girls are told to be quiet, to take up less space, to manage their bodies with more discretion. This lesson counters that. It says: your body is normal. Your body is fine. We manage bodily functions out of consideration, not out of shame. For children with sensory sensitivities, the feeling of a tissue on their face might be uncomfortable. Offer an alternative. They can use their elbow. They can turn away. The important thing is that this is taught with the understanding that consideration does not mean shame. Variation and accommodation are normal. Teach this lesson as a simple matter of fact. Bodies do this. That is normal. Here is how we do it with consideration for others. Simple. Clear. No shame. This is how we care for ourselves and each other.

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