The best method for teaching consent is to model asking for permission and to practice asking for your child’s consent. Telling someone not to touch you is not rude.Don’t hold someone’s hand if they say no.It’s not your fault if someone tries to do something you don’t like.If you don’t like the way someone touches you, you can talk to me or your teacher.If someone hurts us, it’s okay to talk about it.You get to decide what happens to your body.

A person does not have consent unless and until they hear a freely given and unreserved ‘YES!’”Ĭhristine Babinec’s picture book Want a Hug? is the perfect way to introduce consent and boundaries to your kids. What Are Consent and Boundaries?Īccording to Christine Babinec, a licensed and National Board certified counselor who is devoted to working with survivors of trauma and abuse, “consent and boundaries are important words-and even more important actions! Consent means a person has asked and received permission to do or say something and that two or more people are choosing to do something together.” And “boundaries are the guidelines and agreements people utilize” when asking for and giving permission.Ĭonsent is a choice. The first and most important step to teaching consent and boundaries is simply to open the conversation. Understanding consent and boundaries will help your child stay safe and develop better relationships. Learning about consent and boundaries can be natural, easy, and fun with these four ways to teach kids consent in everyday conversation.

Yes Means Yes by Christine Babinec