SKILLS FOR CONSENT

A TOOLKIT FOR PROMOTING CONSENT FOR CHILDREN AGED 5 AND OVER

A TOOLKIT FOR PROMOTING CONSENT FOR CHILDREN AGED 5 AND OVER

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.

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.

FIND THE FULL PUBLICATION HERE

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.

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.