Child predators are very good at seeking out children who may be afraid or reluctant to oppose an adult or who may be easily threatened or coerced. Tell your child to trust their instincts if they do not feel comfortable or are scared around someone, to tell that person in a very loud voice, "No!" if they are asked to keep a secret or go somewhere with that person without you, and to tell you immediately about what happened.
Usually, it is socially unacceptable for anyone to hear a child say no to their parents, relatives, or adults. Some reactions will cause us as parents to want to "people please" and ask our children to perform, so we are all approved. It puts us all at risk for not listening to our intuition and losing our Authentic Power. We feel that it's vital for children to know we all have the right to say no and that it is ok if people's reactions are not happy. They will learn from us in time, and hopefully, they will even begin to say no when they are not aligned with an action or behaviour. It can also open the lines of communication to find out what feelings are behind people's actions and behaviours. If we teach our children that they are safe to choose and say no when they don't want to do something, we empower them for life.
With that in mind, here are 3 ways to teach your kid how to say no, and when they should say it:
Explain Consent
Consent is a two-way street. Not only are they allowed to say no when it comes to their own body, emotions, or personal space, but they also need to allow others to do the same. Let them know that when someone tells them no, they should respect it. In the same way, when they tell someone no, that person should respect it.
Roleplay
One of the best ways to teach a child a new skill and see the application to real life is to roleplay a few scenarios. Let them know when they are allowed to say no without explanation and when a no might need a follow-up conversation. Give them examples and let them make up their own.
Teach Them to Follow Their Intuition
This, like so many topics, won't be a one-time discussion but an ongoing conversation. Let your child say no to people, activities, or situations that make them uncomfortable. The more they are allowed to follow their instincts, the more likely they'll be to listen to them in a difficult situation.
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