About Body Smart
Body Smart is a short lesson for kids ages 7 to 10 that they can click through on their own. It covers three things: the real names for private parts, the idea that your body belongs to you, and who to talk to when something feels wrong. Each of the three missions teaches a few ideas, has the kid practice them, and then asks a few quick questions. Every card also has a Listen button, so kids who are still learning to read can follow along.
Why the real words
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends teaching kids the real names for their private parts and saying them plainly, the same way you would say elbow or knee. Nicknames can make these parts seem bad or secret, and the real words help a kid tell a doctor where something hurts or tell a grown-up if someone touched them. That's why the site uses words like penis, vulva, and testicles like any other body word.
Who this is for
- Kids with disabilities. Kids who need adults to help with daily care are at a higher risk of abuse, so learning body safety matters even more for them. The site uses short sentences, big buttons, and a voice that reads every card.
- Every kind of family. The families activity shows single parents, two moms, two dads, grandparents, stepfamilies, and foster and adoptive families, so more kids see a family like their own.
- Kids whose bodies are different. Some kids are born intersex, with bodies that don't match the usual descriptions. The site says plainly that this is okay, which follows the honest approach from the Week 2 lecture.
- Kids who usually get left out. Sex ed often leaves out LGBTQ+ kids and intersex kids, so the site doesn't assume who a kid is or what their family looks like.
- Families of every culture and faith. Families use different words and have different beliefs about bodies. The site respects that and sticks to safety rules that work for every family.
About Ask Pip
Pip is an AI helper that answers kids' questions in simple words. It runs on an AI model called Grok 4.6, with instructions to stay on body safety, write at a level kids 7 to 10 can read, never ask for personal information, and point kids to a safe grown-up for anything serious. If a kid says they've been hurt, Pip tells them it isn't their fault, tells them to talk to a safe grown-up right away, and gives the Childhelp hotline (call 1-800-422-4453 or text GO to it). If a kid mentions hurting themselves, Pip gives the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Pip also tells kids it's a computer helper, not a person.
Why I made this
I think learning the names of body parts is a good first start for kids learning about sexual health. Being able to identify all of these body parts, not just the ones you have, is really important, and it's basically the foundation for the rest of sexual health. Being straightforward about it matters too, since there aren't many resources kids see nowadays that keep the jargon out, are easy to digest, and actually teach them these things directly. Setting the standard for body rules is a good start too, especially in the context of sexual health, which is important.
I made it a website instead of a storybook because a storybook can feel like a chore to a kid. I remember hating reading books when I was younger, even short ones (I like it now, but younger is different). Kids need to come into these topics with an open mind and a positive perspective, and a page full of text can make them lose interest before they even start reading, which means they retain less. This website is easy to use and friendly, and it almost feels like a video game. It also asks questions at the end of each part, which I think is the most important piece. Teaching kids something and then immediately quizzing them on it has them actively thinking about it, and thinking is where things actually get learned and remembered, not just reading. This personally helps me all over my education, since I learn so much better when I do recall and testing.
I added Pip because kids will sometimes have a specific question, either about the activity or something completely different, and whatever it is, they can ask Pip. Even if they word it weirdly, Pip can figure out what they mean. Kids being scared to ask adults is a real thing that I've experienced, and it's basically what my final paper is focused on. Kids nowadays know a chatbot isn't a person, and having a separate place where they can safely ask and get an answer, with instructions behind it that know who is asking and how to explain it, can fill in the gaps. Something I never want Pip to do is give wrong information, which is why its instructions keep it to the same things the lessons teach and send kids to a safe grown-up for anything serious.
I planned the idea, the three modules and what each one focuses on, the quizzes, and Pip, and I used AI to build around those ideas, which is credited below. I don't think a kid needs a parent to use this. A kid by themselves can totally use it and get value out of it, or a whole class can be loaded into it, knowing Pip is always right there by their side.
Omid Zahrai
Sources
Credits
Made by Omid Zahrai for FCS 3245, Human Sexuality and Gender Across the Lifespan, University of Utah, Fall 2026.
Built with help from AI tools: Claude (Anthropic) helped write and code the site, Grok 4.6 (xAI) powers Ask Pip, and an OpenAI voice model reads the cards out loud. Everything was checked against the sources above.