Children Waving a Big Kite

Why Do We Need Consent Education? 

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In the efforts to prevent sexual assault, it is essential to prioritize consent education, as it is crucial for youngsters to receive the knowledge and skills necessary to handle consent in a respectful manner. The approach to teaching consent should be varied and age-appropriate, especially when dealing with children. For very young children, the focus need not be on sexual consent particularly – instead, they can be educated about healthy relationships, effective communication, trust, mutual respect, and seeking permission. Furthermore, it can include teaching them about the proper names for body parts, understanding personal boundaries, and respecting their own bodies. 1 

Introducing the idea of consent to children can help establish the groundwork for understanding the importance of defining personal boundaries, making choices regarding their bodies, seeking permission, and responding respectfully when faced with rejection. Apart from this, consent education also encourages the belief for children that they have the right to establish and enforce boundaries, determining when and how their bodies are touched and by whom. 2 

In the book Creating Cultures of Consent: A Guide for Parents and Educators, sexual violence prevention and inclusion subject matter expert Laura McGuire offers her insights on how to introduce the conversation of consent to children. She suggests tools for adults to challenge and unlearn harmful beliefs surrounding consent, boundaries, and relationships, which is essential for ensuring that children acquire a healthy idea of consent too. According to McGuire, it is through parents and educators’ desire to help children empathize with others, learn to honor other people’s requests and needs, while also honoring their own sense of self and boundaries, that a deep appreciation for consent arises. She writes: “If consent means anything, it must begin and end with respect for another’s dignity, humanity, and personal autonomy.” 3 

A similar idea is also offered by the team of the MindShift podcast in their episode , where they discuss how teaching students about consent in schools gives them the confidence to set their own boundaries and openly share their emotions. By understanding the importance of consent, students become better equipped to form healthy relationships, set boundaries, and build meaningful connections. Essentially, by applying consent education practices, schools are able to cultivate a lasting culture of empathy and inclusion that can benefit the society as a whole. 

Sources 

  1. Hughes, L. (2021) “Why Teaching Consent in Schools Matters.” SchoolGovernance.  
  1. “Teaching Consent.” Safe Secure Kids.   
  1. McGuire, L. (2021) Creating Cultures of Consent: A Guide for Parents and Educators. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. 
Learning Consent from a Young Age: Three Useful TEDx Talks

Learning Consent from a Young Age: Three Useful TEDx Talks

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In this article, we are sharing three TEDx talks which focus on introducing the topic of consent to children from an early age. These videos could be a valuable resource for seeking insights and helpful advice for parents, educators, and others who wish to foster a culture of consent and respectful boundaries from an early age.

Importance of Consent | Sarah Robinson | TEDxTIUWomen

Sarah Robinson, a junior majoring in international relations at Tokyo International University, attempts to define the term “consent” in this presentation. In her talk, she discusses the importance of introducing the topic of consent to children from an early age, as she believes it is essential for creating a more secure future for the next generations.

Consent, Kids, and Culture | Rosalia Rivera | TEDxOneonta

In today’s society,  the true meaning of consent frequently remains unclear. It is often associated just with sexual consent, while it actually extends way beyond that. During this talk, consent educator and sexual literacy advocate Rosalia Rivera focuses on how exploring the concept of consent and setting boundaries from an early age can impact a person’s upbringing and shape their daily interactions.

Body Sovereignty and Kids: How we can Cultivate a Culture of Consent | Monica Rivera | TEDxCSU

Monica Rivera specializes in teaching courses on gender socialization, violence prevention, and identity representation in popular media. In this TEDx talk, she discusses her personal experience and tips on bringing up children in a setting that values setting boundaries, exercising free personal choices, and understanding the value of consent in everyday interactions.