Right now, a lot of people are talking about consent on college campuses. But learning about consent shouldn’t start at 18.
Consent education should start as early as possible, around three years old, when most kids start to learn the difference between yes and no, to ask before hugging, respect boundaries, and cope with hearing “no” from others.
These six books make those everyday moments easy to practice:
Will Ladybug Hug? by Hilary Leung
For ages 1-3
What it teaches: Not everyone wants a hug. And that’s okay!
I Like It When… by Mary Murphy
For ages 1-3
What it teaches: Knowing what you do like is important too
Yes! No! by Megan Madison, Jessica Ralli & Isabel Roxas
For ages 2-5
What it teaches: Body boundaries and the many ways to say “no”
We Accept No by Lydia Bowers & Isabel Muñoz
For ages 3-5
What it teaches: Respecting “no” and handling rejection
Can I Give You a Squish? by Emily Neilson
For ages 3-6
What it teaches: Treating others the way they want to be treated
How to Tame a Tickle Monster: A First Book About Body Safety by Konika Ray Wong & Mary Navarro
For ages 4-8
What it teaches: The importance of your personal space bubble
The conversations we have at story time shape the ones they’ll have for the rest of their lives. Save this list for your next library trip!
