So, you're a responsible parent that wants to embrace the realm of parenthood but also finds it a bit challenging. Hey, it's completely normal!! It's ok to get confused sometimes since this is an era where everything is fast and complicated, and so the demands of parenting at this age are equally challenging! But the fact that you want to be responsible in your parenting should be sufficient to give you the motivation and self-confidence you need.
So, today we're going to be learning about a very important aspect of parenting in this era: TEACHING KIDS ABOUT "CONSENT." If you're raising a child (no matter if it's a male or a female), this information will be extremely beneficial for you to learn and will help you raise a child that's confident, independent, and strong! Let's get straight into it!
What's Consent?
So first things first, what is consent? I know it's a pretty obvious concept, but it's no harm in getting your perspectives refreshed, right? So I'll begin by defining consent in the simplest way:
"Consent means WILLINGLY permitting or agreeing to somebody else's desire or proposal."
Why Teaching Kids About Consent Is Important
Let's consider a few examples:
● A parent signing up a permission slip, thereby permitting his kid to go on a field trip.
● A woman accepting the proposal of a man to take her on a date.
Here, both the examples stated above focus on an adult giving consent for something they GENUINELY AGREE TO. If I were to give examples of consent for kids, it'd include things like:
● A kid WILLINGLY accepting forms of physical affection like hugs and kisses from people except for his parents.
● A kid saying NO to something he's genuinely uncomfortable with, regardless of the nature of the thing he's resisting.
So, you see, consent is an equally relevant and crucial concept for kids since it gives them a sense of autonomy over their bodies and mind. But how are kids supposed to communicate if they're OK with something, or how do kids realize if they should be OK with something to begin with? That's where things get a bit complicated! And that's exactly why teaching your kids about consent is IMPORTANT!
Not to mention, the rising cases of sexual violence on kids make it even more important for parents to be responsible and teach their kids about what consent is and how to communicate it properly to the other person.
5 Ways To Teach Kids About Consent
Here are 5 ways you can teach your kids about consent:
1. Your children internalize your actions. So if you want to teach them about consent, start SHOWING IT IN YOUR BEHAVIOR. For example, ask your kid every time you want to hug/kiss him.
2. Teach them the power of saying NO, and also how to comply accordingly when somebody else says no to them.
3. Teach them about GOOD TOUCH and BAD TOUCH. Get them completely immersed in the conversation. You can take help from the internet; there are plenty of videos explaining this concept.
4. Teach them to listen to their gut instincts, that whenever they FEEL LIKE something or somebody is a threat to them, they should leave that situation/person.
5. Teach them about their bodies and that their private parts are something NOBODY is allowed to see or touch, except their parents.
Final Word
Teaching your kids about consent is crucial to making them confident, safe, and independent.
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