When we talk about children, they are just like clay which can be molded in any direction. Whatever, children see or notice or grab from their surroundings is what makes their character. Children can’t differentiate between good and bad thus it is the duty of their elders to teach them the importance of CONSENT. It is important for the children to know the significance of a positive upbringing and have healthy social interactions with each other. The best way you can introduce the value of consent to children is by practicing it in front of them, as the more they notice, the faster they will learn.
When in particular, we talk about consent; we take it in a sexual context, so we avoid talking about in front of kids. But it is important for us to learn that consent is not only practiced in that particular context rather used in a variety of places. Children should learn the art of CONSENT as then they would be able to navigate better as adults and form a healthy society.
Here are four ways in which you can practice consent with children and teach them this art:
- Asking for Permission: It is very important to teach children as individuals having a say over their bodies and feelings. We often don’t think of children as autonomous beings. And when we disregard their opinion and make them uncomfortable, we are actually teaching them to have a confusing violation with love.
- Teaching them to ask permission: Just like we ask permission from children and respect their opinion, it is very important that we teach them to ask for permission every time they are entering someone’s personal space. This is to be taught them at a very young stage. Such habit would surely make them a better human being.
- Don’t force children to express themselves physically which is uncomfortable to them: As elders, it is our duty to teach some social cues to our children, but such physical expressions should not be uncomfortable to them. For instance, random hugging or kissing with relatives to express affection or touching an older person’s feet to show respect, all this is done with good intentions. But, if you force children to do something that they don’t want to do, it also teaches them that their refusal or their discomfort doesn’t matter, which is not a very good thing.
- Don’t coerce children to do something for which they have refused: When you ask for permission from children and they refuse, it is important that you also respect their refusal. Don’t make them feel bad by not respecting their denial.
