Bodily Autonomy
Not everyone appreciates hugs or physical affection, so why should we force our children to? Understandably, many parents want their kids to be kind and polite, but we must also listen to their choices and autonomy. By teaching children they’re in charge of their bodies, we are not only educating them on self-value but also their boundaries and how other people’s feelings are not above it.
The idea of abuse happening to our kids is very hard to accept, but the truth is that it happens all too frequently. Parents must teach their kids about their bodily autonomy and that nothing in the world has more power than their own words about it. Educating our children on the importance of consent makes them less likely to become abuse victims, develop low self-esteem, and even domestic violence.