This year's Sexual Assault Awareness Month theme is #IAsk
How do we encourage consent communication from a young age?
In honor of Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM), the Women's Center is sharing this resource from Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MCASA). We hope you find this resource a helpful tool for engaging in conversations with your children about consent.
The theme for this year's Sexual Assault Awareness Month is #IAsk
How do we encourage consent communication from a young age?
Parents & caregivers should talk to children about consent and personal boundaries. Personal boundaries are rules and limits a person creates for themselves, and consent is granting permission for someone to cross those boundaries. While consent education is an essential aspect of sex education, teaching children about consent can also protect children from grooming and instill a sense of autonomy within them.
For younger children, conversations about consent can start long before conversations about sex. Consent is simply about respecting the boundaries of others and having confidence in your own personal boundaries. Emphasize to your child that when asking someone to consent to something (like a hug), it should be assumed the default answer is a "no", because consent is only obtained through a verbal "yes".
This 2 minute video for children explains that asking for consent and giving consent is very important. It provides age appropriate examples of asking for consent and respecting the answer!
Questions to ask your child after watching the video clip:
Q: How do you know if someone consents?
A: A verbal "yes"
Q: If someone touches you without your consent, or won't stop touching you after you have said "no", what do you do?
A: Seek out a trusted adult- review with your child who the trusted adults are in their life.
Q: Why is it important to ask before touching someone?
A: Everybody has their own boundaries, it's important to ask before crossing those boundaries in order to respect others and not cause harm.
To learn more about teaching Maryland children consent communication, please visit our online SAAM website at:
Click for further information from MCASA on:
Preventing Child Sexual Abuse
Creating Protective Environments for Children
Early Warnings and Symptoms of Child Sexual Abuse
Check out these videos for more helpful tips for parents & caregivers below:
Consent and Kids with Disabilities, Rooted in Rights
I Ask How to Teach Consent Early, NSVRC
Check out more videos for kids below:
Ask. Listen. Respect: A Video about Consent, VA Sexual & Domestic Violence Alliance
Boss of My Body, The Mother Company
Preventing Child Sexual Abuse
Creating Protective Environments for Children
Early Warnings and Symptoms of Child Sexual Abuse
Check out these videos for more helpful tips for parents & caregivers below:
Consent and Kids with Disabilities, Rooted in Rights
I Ask How to Teach Consent Early, NSVRC
Check out more videos for kids below:
Ask. Listen. Respect: A Video about Consent, VA Sexual & Domestic Violence Alliance
Boss of My Body, The Mother Company
Posted: April 15, 2020, 3:48 PM