The idea of consent is something that children are learning from the time they are young. When a child asks another child "Can I sit with you?", they are asking for consent. They are learning that what they want might be different than what another child wants, and that it's important to ask.
This is already a challenging practice for kids--it requires that kids know what they want, that they can contain their impulses and put their thoughts into words before acting, and that they be able to tolerate feelings of disappointment or shame that may arise if the other child does not consent.
As kids grow older, all of these same challenges remain, complicated by the budding awareness of sexuality and social dialogue around gender and sexuality. Enter into our private/public world of social media and everything becomes even more complicated. It's no wonder that our kids can get into so much trouble online!
Thanks to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, here are some videos that can make teaching consent easier and more effective. Some videos can help you strengthen your own knowledge and others will speak directly to teaching young kids.
Creating Space Counseling and Wellness can offer you and your family tips and strategies to practice consent in a way that is supportive and compassionate, free from fear or shame.
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