Ask Margaret: How Do I Talk to My Kids About Consent?
b'Conversations with kids about consent are tricky. It can be awkward or uncomfortable to talk with kids of any age about sex, but the more often we have these conversations, the more likely our kids will be able to navigate difficult situations. Have conversations about peer pressure, sex, consent, and personal safety as early and as frequently as possible, while keeping these conversations age-appropriate.\\nThis week a listener on our Facebook page asks:\\nWhen and how do I have conversations with my kids about consent?\\nRegarding their bodies.... touching and allowing touch from others (their peers?)\\nHow to be safe \\u2013 physically, emotionally, and with their devices?\\nHow they can safely explore their questions and curiosities around sex and sexuality?\\nThe notion of consent is important for kids, and useful well before the idea of sex enters their lives. Play is a great place to start having these conversations. Set rules around play that emphasize consent such as:\\n\\nIs everyone playing, or are you shooting Nerf darts at people who are not in the game?\\n\\nWhen someone says "stop," all play comes to an end, whether or not you think the person saying "stop" actually means it\\n\\nWhen we play games with our friends, are we reading their social clues well about whether they are enjoying the game as much as we are?\\n\\n\\nOnce we help our kids define clear language and rules around consent, then we are ready to include sex, control of their own bodies, and respect for other people\'s bodies into these conversations as they grow. We can expand our conversations around consent into:\\n\\nthe role consent plays in sexual and romantic relationships\\n\\nhow peer pressure plays out as kids mature\\n\\nthe way drugs and alcohol can complicate consent\\n\\n\\nMargaret cites this article from the Child Mind Institute in this episode:\\nhttps://childmind.org/article/how-talk-kids-sex-consent-boundaries/\\nFor another great conversation about how to talk to kids - listen to our Fresh Take episode with Michelle Icard:\\nhttps://www.whatfreshhellpodcast.com/fresh-take-michelle-icard-on-the-14-talks-parents-need-to-have-with-their-kids-before-they-turn-14/\\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices'