Promoting A Healthy Mind and Body in Youth: Teaching Respect and Consent

In the last blog we touched on boundaries and consent to keep your children and teens safe. In this one we are going to discuss how to teach your children to engage in relationships with others in a respectful way that honours consent.

First, discuss communication with your youth, teaching the importance of asking others before engaging in hugs, kisses, hand holds, touch, and borrowing items is important. Other youth will not be able to trust your child or teen with big things if they can not trust them to respect their personal space or belongings. Teach your child that any response that is not occupied by an excited and or calm “yes” is a hard “no!”. When someone shares a “yes” that is occupied by a concerned look on their face or closed off body language, it is a no, and your child should know not to continue with their desired behavior.

It is important that we teach that statements such as “I am not sure” or “I do not know” means no. In addition, we want to teach our kids and teens that if a friend says “yes” on Monday to a hug, sharing a toy or hanging out, then your child needs to ask again the next day because consent one day does not cover consent the next.

When we invest in teaching our children and youth about respectful communication it helps kids engage in healthy relationships on the playground, during sports and while hanging out with friends, while also teaching them how to respect other's “no” statements. Teaching kids healthy self-control and the importance of mutual consent in a life skill that can have a positive chain reaction that supports many. Remember, teaching these topics now will help plant seeds in the future that flourish into safety, wellness and respect for your kids and our community.