CONSENT AND LIMITATIONS
A violence prevention toolkit for professionals working with children aged 5-7
Violence against children is a societal problem that we must solve together.
In a typical Danish 8th grade with 28 students, 6 students have been exposed to domestic violence in the past year, according to figures from Børns Vilkår, and according to the Council of Europe, 1 in 5 children in Europe is exposed to sexual violence. In close collaboration with the French NGO Læil Du Loup (LDL), the Center For Violence Prevention (CFV) will focus on preventing violence against children in 2025. Combining LDL's practical experience in developing teaching materials and CFV's scientific and interdisciplinary approach to violence and violence prevention, we have developed a toolbox designed for teachers, professionals, (grand)parents, authorities, NGOs, education and others who work with children in the age group 5-7 years.
Through the toolbox's theoretical foundation and practical exercises, professionals can support and develop children's emotional intelligence and their knowledge of consent and personal boundaries.
Supporting and advocating for children's development in these areas has never been more urgent.
The Danish media image is characterized by stories from elementary schools where children exceed their own, other children's and teachers' limits, and where there are extensive problems with violent behavior.
Key findings from the toolbox:
- Violence against children is a widespread problem both in Europe and in Denmark. There is an urgent need to protect children from violence. Prevention by strengthening children's position in society is a central part of this work.
- Violence against children often occurs in the home, making schools an appropriate place to work on violence prevention measures directly with children.
- Supporting children in developing psychosocial skills can help them resist transgressive and/or other violent behavior, while simultaneously establishing a culture of consent in Danish homes, institutions, and elementary schools.
- Simple exercises and rituals, repeated in a safe environment with safe and familiar adults, contribute to strengthening children's sense of being able to speak up and understand others' boundaries - and to having a place to turn to in case of exposure to violence. These exercises and rituals are made available via the toolbox.
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This violent picture is supported by CFV's own experiences from teaching in primary schools, where 48 % out of 183 of the school-leavers CFV taught in 2022-2023 identify that their boundary setting against boundary-crossing behavior has led to negative reactions, and as many as 69 % of the students surveyed identify that their boundaries have been crossed by either a friend, lover, teacher or family member during their school days. Although the toolbox on boundaries and consent cannot stand alone in preventing this unacceptable picture of violence, it will contribute significantly to the prevention of violence in children's lives from the very start of Danish children's school days by strengthening their emotional intelligence, understanding of their own and others' rights, and what consent is - and how we can give and receive it.
Through the toolbox on consent, LDL and CFV therefore equip adults who care for children in the age group of 5-7 years to do the essential violence prevention work needed to stop brutalization in Danish elementary schools.
SKILLS FOR CONSENT
A toolkit for promoting consent for children aged 5 and over
Violence against children is a societal issue that we must collectively address.
In a typical Danish 8th-grade class of 28 students, six students have experienced violence at home in the past year, according to figures from Børns Vilkår. Furthermore, the Council of Europe reports that one in five children in Europe is subjected to sexual violence.
In close collaboration with the French NGO L'Œil Du Loup (LDL), the Center for Violence Prevention (CFV) will, in 2025, focus sharply on the prevention of violence against children. By combining LDL's practical experience in developing educational materials with CFV's scientific and interdisciplinary approach to violence and violence prevention, we have developed a toolkit designed for educators, professionals, (grand)parents, authorities, NGOs, educational institutions, and others working with children aged 5-7.
The Danish media landscape is filled with stories from public schools where children exceed their own boundaries, those of their peers, and even their teachers, leading to widespread issues with violent behavior.
This troubling picture is reinforced by CFV's own experiences from teaching in public schools. Among 183 upper secondary students CFV taught in 2022-2023, 48% reported that setting boundaries against inappropriate behavior resulted in negative reactions, while a staggering 69% reported that their boundaries had been violated by a friend, romantic partner, teacher, or family member during their school years.
Key Findings from the Toolkit:
- Violence against children is a widespread issue in both Europe and Denmark. There is an urgent need to protect children from violence, and prevention through strengthening children's societal position is a crucial part of this effort.
- Violence against children often occurs at home, making schools an appropriate setting for implementing direct violence prevention initiatives with children.
- Supporting children in developing psychosocial skills can help them resist boundary violations and other forms of violence, while also establishing a culture of consent in Danish homes, institutions, and schools.
- Simple exercises and rituals, repeated in a safe environment with familiar and trusted adults, help strengthen children's ability to say no and understand others' boundaries. These exercises also provide a clear avenue for children to seek help if they experience violence. The toolkit provides access to these exercises and rituals.
- Through the toolkit's theoretical foundation and practical exercises, professionals can support and develop children's emotional intelligence, knowledge of consent, and understanding of personal boundaries.
While the toolkit on boundaries and consent cannot single-handedly eliminate this unacceptable reality, it will significantly contribute to the prevention of violence in children's lives from the very start of their school years. The toolkit strengthens children's emotional intelligence, their understanding of their own and others' rights, and what consent is – as well as how to give and receive it.
Through the Consent Toolkit, LDL and CFV equip the adults responsible for the care of 5-7-year-old children with the essential violence prevention tools necessary to counteract the growing desensitization within Danish public schools.
