[THEME SONG BEGINS]
>>RACHEL: Welcome back! It's time for Chompers, your morning and night toothbrushing show!
Start brushing on the top of your mouth on one side, and brush the inside, outside, and chewing side of each tooth.
>>KIDS: 3, 2, 1 brush!
[THEME SONG ENDS]
>>RACHEL: Jasmine, take it away!
>>JASMINE: Thanks! It's Your Questions Week, and today our question is from Martin.
>>JASMINE: Oh there's my friend Eric. I bet he can help me answer this question. Hi Eric. I actually have a question for you.
>>ERIC: Hey. Hey how's it going. I want to help but would you mind taking just a small step back?
>>JASMINE: Oh sorry. Yeah sorry about that.
>>ERIC: It's OK. You're just in my personal space.
>>JASMINE: Oh well that's actually what I want to talk to you about. We have a question about we've a question from Martin and it' We've a question from Martin. And it is:
>>MARTIN: Can you help me understand my personal space?
>>ERIC: Well I definitely can.
>>JASMINE: Switch your brushing to the other side of the top of your mouth…
[SWITCH BELL]
>>JASMINE: -and brush the molars in the back, too.
>>ERIC: So personal space is the space around you that you need to feel comfortable. It's kind of like a bubble like an imaginary bubble that fits all the way around you. And when people step inside that bubble, it might feel uncomfortable.
>>JASMINE: Oh so when I came up to you just now I was inside your bubble.
>>ERIC: Yes yes. So the first thing you should know is that we have different bubbles.
These bubbles are messages that your brain sends to you. So your first bubble might be about an arm's length away. And in that bubble you might feel most comfortable with just friends or family.
>>JASMINE: Learn more after you switch your brushing to the bottom of your mouth…
[SWITCH BELL]
>>JASMINE: -and don’t brush too hard.
>>ERIC: your second bubble is a little bit bigger. It goes from about one GROWN-UP arm to about two grown up arms away from you and friends are people you know might be able to be inside that bubble but not strangers.
>>JASMINE: What happens if a stranger comes to your bubble?
>>ERIC: Well if anyone steps inside and one of your bubbles and they're not supposed to you might feel a little uncomfortable. You might feel icky. You might even get the heebie jeebies. And that's your brain telling you that you need more space to feel safe
So if someone gets in your bubble and you feel uncomfortable you can tell them say Hey you're a little bit too close and it makes me feel uncomfortable.
>>JASMINE: Switch to the other side of the bottom of your mouth…
[SWITCH BELL] and brush your front teeth, too. Ok, and what if you feel like your brain never tells you about these space bubbles?
>>ERIC: Well, know that you’re not alone! See your brain usually creates these bubbles when you’re about 3 or 4 years old. But some people’s brains take longer to create the bubbles. And some people’s brains don’t do it at all. And that's OK! Here are some tips to help you think about the bubbles.
If you see someone backing away from you that might be because they aren't ready to let you inside their bubble and you can back up too as a way to say, “hey, I see you. I understand I was in your bubble and I didn't mean to be.”
>>JASMINE: Right and you don't want to be in somebody’s bubble if they if they don't want you there.
>>ERIC: Thats right.
[THEME SONG BEGINS]
>>JASMINE: Alright Chompions you did a good job brushing. Come back tomorrow for more answers! Until then…
>>KIDS: 3, 2, 1 spit!
>>JASMINE: Special thanks to Eric Eddings. He’s the Co- Host of the Nod, a Gimlet show for grown ups about black life!
[THEME SONG ENDS]