Parents, guardians, and trusted adults play a critical role in modeling and teaching consent skills for the children they love. Here are some tips for practicing and modeling consent skills at home:
Model consent in daily interactions by asking permission & respecting when the answer is “no”:
- “Would you like a hug?”
- “Is it okay if I tell _____ what you shared with me?”
- “Can I borrow your…?”
- “No? Okay, I respect that.”
Encourage family members and other adults to ask for consent before hugging a child
Give children choices about how to greet or say goodbye to others (“Would you like to hug, high-five, or wave goodbye to…?”)
Share with children that they are the boss of their own bodies. Practice what they can do or say if they do not want to share affection or don’t want someone to touch them.
Teach children that seeking consent isn’t just about listening for a ‘no.’ Encourage them to listen for an affirmative “yes!” and pay attention to body language and facial expressions.