Honoring Children’s Boundaries During the Holidays

We've all navigated that moment: a family member wants a kiss or a hug, operating under the well-meaning but flawed idea that being family grants automatic access to a child's body. However, repeatedly pushing our kids to allow touch when they're uncomfortable teaches them to override their own intuition—a setup for difficulties with boundaries and consent later in life.

This holiday season, let's commit to teaching and honoring bodily autonomy. Give your child the full power to say yes or no to physical contact.

If you're nervous about the awkward moment when your child rejects a loved one, try this script. It validates everyone:

"I know you love [Child's Name] so much, and they love you, too! They said 'no' to a hug/kiss right now."

Then, smoothly offer an alternative to bridge the moment: a high five, fist bump, air kiss, or big wave. It honors their 'no' while still celebrating connection.