Prithviraj Sukumaran on responsibilities of being a girl dad: ‘I’m at that uncomfortable stage…’

Prithviraj Sukumaran, a Malayalam actor, has become more aware of societal issues and the responsibilities of being a father since he became one. He has an 11-year-old daughter and feels he is in an uncomfortable stage where he needs to start talking to her about what is safe and unsafe. Sukumaran believes that the conversation should not be limited to girls but should also include boys.

Counselling psychologist Athul Raj agrees and emphasizes that safety education should be integrated into the parent-child relationship rather than being reduced to a list of rules. The conversations can start early, covering topics like bodily autonomy, personal boundaries, and consent as the child grows. Raj also stresses the importance of how parents respond when a child shares something uncomfortable, advising them to listen, reassure, and help the child feel safe enough to continue talking.

In the Indian context, Raj highlights that safety advice often focuses on girls' behavior, but it should not become their understanding of responsibility. Instead, boys should also learn about consent, boundaries, empathy, and respecting refusal to foster healthy relationships. The ultimate goal of these conversations is to give children a healthy awareness of risk while ensuring they trust their own discomfort and know they have a safe adult they can turn to if needed.