Consent isn’t just a topic for teenagers — it starts in the Early Years. Helping young children understand personal boundaries, the right to say no, and respectful relationships lays a crucial foundation for safeguarding and lifelong wellbeing. For early years practitioners, understanding how to model and teach consent appropriately is a key part of creating a safe, respectful learning environment.
Children under five may not yet have the vocabulary or emotional maturity to express themselves clearly, but they still deserve bodily autonomy and respect. Teaching consent at this stage helps children:Develop trust and confidenceRecognise when a situation feels wrongLearn how to assert themselves safelyUnderstand and respect others’ boundariesPromoting consent also reduces the risk of harm and supports your setting’s safeguarding culture.
Consent in Early Years isn't about legal agreements — it’s about everyday interactions. Children can learn:
- It’s okay to say “no” to hugs, kisses, or touch
- To ask before touching someone else
- That if someone says “stop” or “no”, we listen immediately
- These small lessons build big protections.
1. Model Asking PermissionUse phrases like “Can I help you with your coat?” or “Would you like a cuddle or a high five?” to show children that asking first is respectful.
2. Model seeking consent and giving them autonomy: “Would you like to sit on the carpet or at the table?”
3. Respect Children’s ‘No’ acknowledge refusals with validation: “That’s okay, we don’t have to.” This reinforces their right to personal boundaries.
4. Coach peer-to-peer boundaries that Support children when playing together: “Let’s ask if it’s okay before we take a toy” or “He said stop, so we stop.”
5. Use Books and Role Play to incorporate storytime and pretend play to gently introduce ideas around safe touch, private body parts, and saying no.
Strong home-setting partnerships reinforce the message. You can:
- Share your approach to consent education
- Encourage parents to adopt similar language and practices
- Provide guidance on naming body parts correctly and asking before tickling or hugging
Understanding and practising consent gives children tools to speak up if something doesn’t feel right. This strengthens safeguarding in line with the EYFS framework and helps foster emotionally safe settings where children are listened to and protected.
Need Training?
Explore our Safeguarding & Consent in Early Years course at EYFSTrainingHub.co.uk.
Learn how to embed consent education into everyday practice with age-appropriate tools and techniques.
