Teaching Little Ones About Asking First

Consent education can start early, long before it has anything to do with adult relationships at all. Teaching a child to ask before taking a toy, before a hug, or before touching someone else's things builds the foundation for respecting boundaries much later in life. It becomes easier to practise the more it is talked about openly.

Simple, age appropriate language works best: asking gently whether something is okay, and accepting the answer even when it is no, models exactly the behaviour we hope children carry into adulthood. It also teaches children that their own boundaries deserve the very same respect in return. This is worth remembering even when a conversation feels awkward at first.

Raising these topics with children can bring up questions of your own, and that is completely normal for any parent or carer. 1800RESPECT is available on 1800 737 732 any time, and Kids Helpline is there for young people aged 5 to 25 on 1800 55 1800. Whatever you are feeling right now is reason enough to call.